An executive of the Upper East wing of the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association (GNMTA), Mumuni Hamidu, has said the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), a programme launched last week by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to address Ghana’s unemployment, is unbefitting for Nursing professionals.
Mr. Hamidu added that moves by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to replace the numerous promises made to the Nursing fraternity during the 2016 elections has left them disappointed and deceived.
“We really feel deceived by the current government, because this thing has never happened before. Even if it should happened it delays for us to be given appointments by the government but not the extent that you will not be given appointment but you will be told that you have to work under a policy (NABCO) for a certain time before you are given financial clearance. So we really feel deceived”. He said.
Speaking on Day Break Upper East on A1 Radio, Mr. Hamidu explained that, the reason they (Nurses) are kicking against the NABCO programme results from the fact that the programme will not offer the condition of service a nurse is entitled to under normal engagement.
“If you look at the health sector, it is the sector that if they (Government) going to pay us that amount, once you are given appointment as a nurse, you are called a staff nurse. So it’s a hierarchy. So when you are called a staff nurse you are entitled to a certain amount, that’s 1,700 Ghc. You area also entitled to other social security benefits. After that when you work for three years, you are entitled to be called a senior nurse………..after you work for three years you are granted a study leave.
“But if you look at the NABCO per say, it’s a contract that we are supposed to work for three years. So we are not being told, ‘am I going to start as a staff nurse or an ordinary nurse”. He questioned.
He stated that even if nurses will apply for absorption into NABCO, it will be for the love to serve humanity as their profession stands for and not for the meagere monetary benefits of the programme.
He used the opportunity to charge nurses who are rendering voluntary services to hospitals in the region, in a bid to reduce the poor Patients-Nurse ratio, to continuously give out their best.
A1 Radio News|A1radioonline.com|Ghana
