Minister launches nurses' week celebration

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo has appealed to nurses in the Region to rededicate themselves to the care of patients to help control the spread of diseases including cholera.

He said nurses should be prepared to work beyond the required hours to save lives of cholera patients.

He made the appeal on Wednesday when he launched the 2014 Nurses' Week Celebration organized by the Ghana Registered Nurses' and Midwifery Association (GRNA) on the theme, "Nurses and Midwives: a force for change - a vital resource for health”, at Tema.

The Regional Minister also called on the nurses and other health personnel to intensify education on the causes, prevention and cure of cholera as the current outbreak was worrying.

Mr Afotey-Agbo appealed to health personnel to be vigilant in their communities and work places to quickly identify symptoms of the Ebola disease for the appropriate actions to be taken.

On the Nurses' week celebration, he said nurses and midwives must use the week to reflect on the services they rendered to the public and must be leaders of change in their field of work.

He appealed to the GRNA to use the week to inform, to advice and encourage nurses on their work ethics and the need to collaborate with the government to provide the public with quality healthcare.

Mr Kwaku Asante-Krobea, President, GRNA, said the annual celebration of the Nurses' week was in honour of the architect of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

According to him, challenges and crisis faced by nurses in the country would impact negatively in the provision of quality health in the country.

He said there was an artificial shortage of nurses in the system due to government's failure to employ newly qualified nurses to replace retired nurses.

Dr Mary Opare, Head of the Nursing Department, Central University College, recounted the history of Florence Nightingale and urged nurses to emulate her qualities.

She advised student nurses to desist from contracting people to do their research work for them as the phenomenon was becoming worrisome.

Nii Adjei Kraku 11, the Paramount Chief of Tema, and other speakers present at the launch, all reiterated the need for nurses to provide professional care to patients.