Improvement in human care depends on technology – Dr Antwi

Dr James Antwi of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of information technology in nursing institutions to improve upon trends in modern nursing. He said IT is important and can encourage learning.

Delivering the keynote address at the matriculation of the Kwadaso SDA Nurses and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) in Kumasi last week under the theme: ‘The use of technology for effective health care delivery: The role of health training institutions.’

Dr Antwi said improvement in human care depends on technology and, therefore, IT could to a large extent encourage learning among trainee nurses.
According to the former Deputy Director, Human Resource for Health Ministry, denying nurses of the use of IT amounts to denying them knowledge and urged nursing institutions to create opportunities for their students to use mobile technology for learning.

Dr. Antwi observed that nursing dynamic hence teachers should adopt programmes on new trends of teachers learning procedures as healthcare has changed over the years due to technology and continue to change in the areas of imaging technology, production of vaccines, gene therapy and telemedicine.

Dr James Antwi, a former Board Chairman of the Royal Ann College of Health (RACOH) at Manhyia in the Atwima Nwabiagya District in the Ashanti Region College, further urged heads of nursing colleges to identify talents of nursing trainees while under training as added value to their calling of health delivery and thus enhance their performance.

The lecturer cited cadet corps whose disciple and attitude could enhance their call to duty as nurses as well as choristers who could use music therapy in nursing care at their duty posts to enhance healthcare delivery.

He commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for the free SHS policy which would provide access to the youth towards specialisation in various fields.

He, however, said the education system should be geared towards unearthing talents when education is accessed from the SHS to the university level through continuous assessment in order not to consider some category of persons as waste.

He has, therefore, suggested that Ghanaians as a people should stop fighting over excavators and develop talents towards national development.

Dr. pastor Kwame Kwaning Boakye, president of the Northern Ghana Mission of SDA and Board chairman of the Kwadaso SDA NMTC who presided ocer the matriculation ceremony noted that nurses are special people because they help prevent infirmity and diseases in humans and thus sustain procreation.