Nurses must be insured against occupational hazards-MP

Accra (Greater Accra) 10th June '99

Mr Francis Kwasi Buor, Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso South on Tuesday suggested that nurses be covered by some insurance scheme.

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Buor said the scheme would offer nurses some degree of security of service due to the hazardous nature of their work.

He outlined the numerous problems faced by the St Patrick's Hospital at Maase-Offinso. He said due to frequent power cuts, and the breakdowns of the hospital's 17-year-old generator, its X-ray and Ultra-sound Scanner machines are lying idle.

Basing his statement on the subject: "Tragedy hits St Patrick Hospital at Maase-Offinso", Mr Buor explained that it was the lack of electric power at the hospital and the use of lanterns that resulted in the tragedy that hit it on Friday, April 23 this year.

On the night of that day, whilst on duty, two nurses, Hilda and Anastasia were severely burnt when their kerosene lantern exploded and their clothes caught fire.

Mr Buor said the hospital authorities have so far spent over four million cedis on the victims now on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

He indicated that according to the medical officer in charge, the two nurses might need grafting of some parts of their bodies and, therefore, appealed to the government, religious bodies and well-meaning citizens of Offinso to offer the necessary financial assistance.

The MP said although the hospital has facilities for blood storage, blood cannot be stored and this has made it impossible for the authorities to perform surgical operations and carry out blood transfusion.

All the members, who associated themselves with the statement, held the view that if the Ministry of Health provides health institutions throughout the country with the required logistic, they would be able to function effectively.

Mr Freddie Blay, Second Deputy Speaker, and member for Ellembelle, who was in the chair, expressed the house's sympathy to the nurses and wished them speedy recovery.