Ministry urged to set external examinations

..for private nursing institutions
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - The Ministry of Health was on Thursday called upon to establish an external examination for those who complete private nursing institutions as a form of standardisation and recognition of such products.

Mrs Margaret Rose Afriyie, Director of Ma Mere Nursing Agency, a private nursing institution, said such an examination would help to boost morale of such trained nurses and pave the way for their general acceptance.

Speaking at a passing out ceremony of the third batch of students of the Agency, Mrs Afriyie, who is also a nurse, further appealed to private operators of health care facilities to absorb such products, who were well trained to assist professional nurses in the various health care centres.

The 31 nurses, who could serve as health care assistants, underwent a 12-week theory and practical training in fundamentals of nursing, anatomy and physiology, mental health, first aid and introduction to community health and work and reproduction and child health services. Giving a brief history of the Agency, Mrs Afriyie said it was established in 2000 to help absorb those who leave secondary school and could not gain admission to the formal nursing training institutions and the universities.

She, therefore, urged senior secondary school graduates to take advantage of the opportunity and enrol at the Agency to gain some form of employment.

Mr Archibald Donkor, Deputy National Youth Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council, commended the Agency for its efforts at ensuring that Ghanaian youth were equipped with skills to help develop the nation.

He urged the Agency to strengthen its links to deprived communities where health facilities were relatively not the best. Three men and 28 women passed out.