CHRAJ concerned about reports of unprofessional conduct of nurses

Cape Coast, May 25, GNA - Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of

the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), said t he Commission is concerned about reports of unprofessional conduct of nurses in Ghana's health services delivery.

He said CHRAJ's monitoring activities revealed cases of unprofession al conduct against health professionals including impatience, inattention, rudeness, verbal assaults and discrimination against poor patients. Mr Quayson made the observation at the graduation ceremony of the "Basic Human Rights for Health Professionals" course at separate function s at Cape Coast Nurses Training College and Ankaful Psychiatric Nurses Training School. He urged the graduands to lead the way for the resolution for human rights friendly health care delivery in the country.

Mr Quayson reminded them that Ghanaians now had better understanding of their human rights and would demand excellent professional care as a matt er of right, as they would not accept any unprofessional conduct from health

personnel. He was of the hope that the training acquired would empower them to render better services by being responsible, respectful and defending the

dignity of the patient at all times. The Deputy Commissioner said they had been equipped to be good examp les for the nursing profession. Mr Ebenezer Aggrey, course Coordinator, who is also a Senior Princip al Investigator of CHRAJ, for his part said the course was designed to equip

the students with better understanding of the human rights concept to enhance their profession. In all, 338 students participated in the programme.

Mr Aggrey said there had been a slight increase in the number compar ed to that of last year's figure of 329 and encouraged more students to participate. He advised the students to establish human rights clubs in their various campuses. Mr Aggrey enumerated some of the challenges in executing their activities, including logistics, transportation and low rate perception about the course by some students. He said the programme which had been running for six years on pilot basis, was ready to roll out in other parts of the country.