Teshie Nursing and Midwifery College holds graduation

Health Minister Mr Alex Segbefia has asked public health workers to strive to change the negative perceptions of the public about them by doing their work diligently and humanely.

He told new professionally trained nurses and midwives to use the knowledge acquired to contribute their quota to the development of the motherland, Ghana.

“Always be guided by your motto which is ‘Service to Humanity’”, the Minister said.

His call was contained in a speech read for him by Mr George Kyeremeh, Director of Nursing and Midwifery of the Ministry of Health, at the ninth graduation and commissioning of the Nursing and Midwifery Training College at Teshie, near Accra.

The Minister commended the college for braving through hard times from its inception in January 2008, from under a canopy, with teaching staff of four and student population of 70, to the present full grown college of more than 1,600 students and teaching staff of 23 and non-teaching staff of 12.

Mr Segbefia reminded the graduates to maintain a lifelong relationship with the school, and assured the gathering that the Ministry would continue to play meaningful roles to enhance the development of the college.

“Efforts are being made by the Ministry of Health to equip our Training Institutions to be able to meet standards set by the University to enhance effective teaching and learning.

“The Ministry strongly believes that the quality of training of health professionals could only be achieved through the provision of excellent practical training schemes, in the form of clinical work, demonstration and attractions,” Mr Segbefia said.

He admitted challenges concerning maternal health, and urged the nurses to be more innovative and adopt evidence base practices to reduce its effects.

Mr Felix Nyante, Registrar of the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Ghana, appealed to nurses to see their service as one of the essential services, and not to resort to strikes to settle issues of conditions of service.

“I have been in service for 29 years, but I have not gone on strike for a single day,” Mr Nyanteh said, adding that, the founder of nursing, Florence Nightingale, always went the extra mile to save lives.

Mr Nyanteh reasoned that it would be impossible for nurses, who go on strike, to revive patients who die as a result of their absence, and after that, they (nurses) come back and collect their remunerations for the period of absence.

“Do you go back to the cemeteries to resurrect all those who died during the strike; maybe they may include a dear one? Let’s reconsider our action, we must remember that ours is essential service,” Mr Nyanteh said.

Mrs Helen Gifty Dwamena Amoah, the Principal of the College, urged the graduates to constantly update their skills and knowledge.

She appealed for individual, corporate and government support to provide the school with a canteen, a hostel, improve the administration block and the school’s auditorium.

Mrs Benita Sena Okity- Duah, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and MP for the Ledzokuku Constituency, acknowledged the contributions of past MPs- Dr Gladys Ashitey and Nii Nortey Dua in the development of the college.

She donated a number of computers to the college and urged all to support to move it to higher heights.

Mrs Okity-Dua urged the graduate nurses and midwives to have compassion for their patients.

Ms Joyce Amedunu was adjudged the best graduating student.