Hajj Committee conducts interview for medical staff

The National Hajj Committee on Saturday conducted interviews for nurses who intend to serve on its medical team for the 2013 pilgrimage.

The five-member interview panel comprised Dr Mahamadu Mbeniwaya, a Gyeanacologist and Head of the Prestea Government Hospital in the Western Region; Dr Mohammed Kamil Mohammed, eye specialist at Robert and Sons Clinic in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region; Dr Osman Abdulai and Dr Salimatu Asan Moro, both general practitioners at the Tamale West and Teaching Hospitals in the Northern Region and Mr Ibrahim Abdul- Rauf Tanko, Chairman of the Committee.

This is the first time the Hajj Committee had organised interviews for the medical staff who intend to serve on the medical team.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Dr Mbeniwaya said the interview was the right channel to select members of the medical team in order to ensure quality of health delivery to the pilgrims in both Ghana and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He said the nurses were questioned on General, Community, Eye and Psychiatric knowledge.

Dr Mbeniwaya said panel members also inspected original certificates of all applicants presented to ensure that photo images of the applicants were on the certificates.

He said the preferred drugs to be sent to Saudi Arabia would be examined by the Narcotics Control Board and the Food and Drugs Authority in Ghana and presented with the approval of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko, Chairman of the Committee, said the call for the applicants was made open.

He said the Committee would select General, Community and Psychiatric Nurses on Regional basis across the country from different ethnic groups to avoid communication barrier.

One of the applicants (name withheld) said: “I was surprised when I received a call from the Committee's Secretariat to come for an interview, I taught it is not going to work.

“I was told by my mother not to apply because it has never been done previously, but this will correct the perception of many Ghanaians that the committee is bias in selection. At least even if I am not selected there is transparency in the selection.”