About 230 student nurses matriculated in Accra

The Registered Post Basic Nursing programmes in the Greater Accra Region on Friday held its first joint matriculation ceremony for 229 students admitted into the various programmes run by the institution for the 2015/2016 academic year.

Out of the number 52 gained admission to study Ophthalmic Nursing, 50 would be studying Peri-Operative Nursing, whilst 48 would be reading Critical Care Nursing, 54 were being admitted into the Public Health Nurses’ school all at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital with the remaining 25 being offered admission into the School of Anesthesia at the Ridge Hospital.

The students made up of 188 women and 41men were led by the various Principals of the respective Schools to swear the Matriculation Oath, which binds each student to abide by all rules and regulations, and also to be of good behaviour while pursuing their studies in order to promote a positive image of the Institution.

Mr Lawrence O. Lawson, Head of Allied Health Training Institutions Secretariat, MOH, said nursing was critical to the capacity building development in the country.

“All these nursing programmes forms part of the vital areas Ministry of Health has made efforts over the years to improve

“This is because the absence of adequate care in these areas threatens the work force and the population of the country,” he said.

Mr Lawson added that it was for that and many reasons that the training which focused on the enhancement and competencies of nurses, such as “the matriculates present here is critical to the capacity development in the health sector,” he said.

He therefore challenged the students to make the best use of their training sessions, in order that they realize their various ambitions.

Mr Lawson however pledged the MOH’s continuous assistance that would be played to enhance development in various schools.

“I have listened with keen attention to the numerous challenges confronting the various institutions which the Principals enumerated. I wish to assure all and sundry that these challenges will be forwarded to the appropriate offices and discussions held with the authorities to come to the aid of the schools to ensure that they operate as expected to turn out many qualified Ophthalmic Nurses, Public Health Nurses’, Critical Care and Per-Operative Nurses,” he said

Mrs Ellen Anyeley Clegg, Principal, Ophthalmic Nursing Training School, congratulated the students for successfully obtaining admission to pursue their dream courses in the various schools.

She said better health was central to human happiness and well-being.

“It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer, and are more productive,” she said.

She urged them to make use of the opportunity offered them by the health training institutions by staying focused, working hard and remaining conscious of the efforts and sacrifices of their parents and guardians towards their future job security through quality education.

Mrs Anyeley urged the students to live by the words contained in the matriculation oath.

Mr Kwaku Asante-Krobea, President, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said getting employment for the unemployed nurses was a matter of concern.

He therefore lauded government for the clearance passed for over 3,000 unemployed nurses to be posted into the various hospitals in the country.

Mr Asante-Krobea noted that though it was good there was the need for more to bridge the gap between the nurse-patient ratio which currently stands at 1:20 and was a threat to the nation.

“There is need for more recruitment for Ghana to the reach the required 1:6 nurse-patient ratio for lives to be saved,” he said.