The Upper East Regional President of the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG), has called on the government to urgently address critical staffing and infrastructure challenges facing health workers in the region.
Speaking at a regional durbar attended by nurses, midwives, health administrators and policymakers, Regional President Apandango Mahamadu Musah said persistent shortages and uneven distribution of health professionals are undermining healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and border communities.
He cited recent Ghana Health Service reports indicating stalled progress in maternal and newborn health, including a rise in institutional maternal mortality and a decline in skilled delivery coverage from 60.6% in 2023 to 55.3% in 2024, with the trend continuing into 2025.
Mr. Musah noted that nurses and midwives make up more than half of Ghana’s public health workforce, yet many Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in the Upper East Region lack even one resident midwife. He also highlighted a national backlog of trained but unemployed health workers, estimated at more than 74,000.
He urged the government to increase recruitment, ensure equitable distribution of staff and provide incentives to retain professionals in rural areas. He also called for greater investment in health infrastructure and logistics to enable effective service delivery.
“Our members are committed to saving lives, but they need the right tools, security and recognition to do their work effectively,” Mr. Musah said.
Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga commended the union for organizing the durbar and reaffirmed the government’s recognition of the vital role nurses and midwives play in healthcare delivery.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Moses Azubire Anaba | Bolgatanga
