GRNMA justifies rural postings refusals

Nurses

David Tenkorang Twum, general secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), stated that his members' refusal to accept rural postings is due to the government's refusal to provide rural incentives.

According to him, the focus of the health ministry should be on implementing measures to make working in rural areas less stressful for nurses and midwives, as opposed to the number of employees who decline rural postings.

He believed that if more health care professionals decline rural postings, the government will be compelled to keep its 2021 promise."If it were up to me, not even 20% would leave. 80 percent of rural residents comply. Our statistics are superior to those of other professionals."

"The question that should be asked is what measures the minister of health has set in place to ensure that 100 percent of all health care workers, including nurses and midwives, will be assigned to rural areas?

"We negotiated for rural incentives two years ago. Due to the difficulties faced by our members and the inherent dangers of being assigned to these rural areas, we negotiated an incentive payment from the government. He questioned, "Since nothing has been paid to date, how do you expect them to proceed?"

"I would have preferred that fifty percent of those posted there find alternative options. Living in a village is difficult, and it is even more difficult if you are not a local. Good housing, transportable water, and other life necessities are scarce," he stated on Accra's Neat FM.

Mr. Twum added that, in addition to the hardships they endure during their time in rural areas, the lack of essential medical equipment makes their work even more challenging.

The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has stated that over twenty percent of nurses and midwives decline postings to rural areas of the country.

He characterized the situation as worrisome and stated that it had the potential to delay the implementation of universal health coverage in the country.

He urged nurses and midwives to take assignments in all regions of the nation.