Takoradi, Dec. 3, GNA - The third Western Regional Nurses Awards Day was held at Takoradi on Saturday with a call on nurses to work hard to redeem the sinking image of the profession.
Dr. Sylvester Anemana, the Regional Director of Health Services, also advised nurses and other health workers to cultivate friendly attitudes toward patients.
Dr. Anemana referred to the recent strike by nurses and said the attitude of some of them who literally drove away patients on admission, locked up the wards and took away the keys tarnished the image of the profession and expressed the hope this would not be repeated. He commended nurses and other health workers in the districts "who saw reason and continued to work to minimize the suffering of patients" during the strike even though they supported the action.
"We should be responsive to the public because if we fail them there will be no justification for them to offer this kind of support", Dr. Anemana said.
Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah, the Western Regional Minister, expressed the people's gratitude to those who worked hard to alleviate the suffering of patients.
He said the institution of the Nurses' Awards to reward nurses who work especially in remote parts of the region must be extended to other categories of workers.
Mr. Amoah said even though there had been significant improvement in health delivery service in the region over a couple of years, there was still much to be done to further improve health service delivery. Statistics indicate that only 46.9 per cent of the region's population has access to health care as compared to the national average of 57.6 per cent.
As at 2005, there were 112 doctors in the region compared to 60 in 2003 and 69 doctors in 2004.
The population to doctor ratio in 2005 was one is to 20,115 as compared to one is to 31,638 in 2004, while population to nurse ration in 2005 was one to 2,204 compared to one is to 2,107 in 2004.
Mrs. Hanna Kwarteng of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District who worked for 30 years was adjudged the regional best nurse and was presented with a saloon car donated by the Regional Coordinating Council.
Mrs. Marian Hagan, Senior Staff Midwife of the Daboase Health Centre, took home living room furniture and a television set as her prize for winning the second best regional nurse.
Mrs Paullina Boakye, a nurse of the Asankrangwa Government Hospital, was adjudged the third best regional nurse. She was presented with a queen-size bed, a flat screen television set and a certificate.
Twenty-two other award winners in various categories were presented with double-door refrigerators, television sets, certificates and 200,000 cedis each.
Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado who presided over the ceremony, advised award winners to continue to work hard. 03 Dec 06
