Sack All Nursing Trainees Who Are Not Performing-Upper/East Regional Director

The Upper East Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi has urged the management of health training institutions in the region to sack non-performing nursing trainees to cleanse the health system of poorly trained nurses and midwives.

Speaking at the International Nurses Day celebration in Navrongo, Dr. Dzotsi asserted that human life was precious and must not be entrusted to the hands of people who were not serious during their training, but found their way out as nurses and midwives.

According to him students who were pushed through the system even though they could not pass their semester examinations were unacceptable and insisted that any nurse or midwife trainee who could not make the required pass mark, must not be considered.

He lamented that during clinical sessions, where nursing and midwifery trainees visited various hospitals to gain practical experience, some trainees absented themselves.

“So, if they don't visit the hospitals, how can they gain practical experience,” Dr. Dzotsi asked, and said, “we need quality and well-trained nurses and midwives to care for the sick in this Region we cannot compromise on quality.” He said

Dr. Dzotsi described as alarming the rate at which health professionals in the region, especially nurses in uniform rode motorbikes without crash helmets and cautioned them to desist from such acts.

He disclosed that the GHS in the Region lost four nurses to motorbike accidents who probably could have survived if they had crash helmets on.

“We need you alive to care for patients in the hospitals so try to stay safe on the road and always put on crash helmets,” the Director advised.

Touching on the desire of nurses and midwives seeking postings outside the region, the director said about 90 percent want to leave.

“If you all leave, who will work, Please, I want to appeal to you to stay so we can improve the system,” he appealed.

He called on the government and other stakeholders to invest in healthcare delivery in the Region and said nurses and midwives who agreed to work in rural areas of the Region would be qualified for study leave with pay after two years of service.