President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, has blamed the country's widespread exodus of nurses and midwives on low pay and terrible working conditions.

She emphasized the vital roles nurses and midwives play in Ghana's health system, covering clinical practice, education, research, public health, rehabilitation, administration, and management.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of a state-of-the-art GRNMA secretariat and guest house in Pusu-Namongo, Talensi District, Upper East Region, Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo called on the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to urgently employ the 2020 batch of nurses and midwives who are still unemployed.

She emphasized the need to strengthen the training of professional nurses at diploma and degree levels to address potential shortages.

Furthermore, the GRNMA advocated for the discontinuation of the axillary nursing programs in Ghana, believing that highly skilled nurses and midwives provide the safest care for patients.

Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo urged Ghanaians to receive safe and quality nursing and midwifery care, emphasizing professionalism in all patient-related activities.

The event was attended by various executives of the Association, including the First Vice President, Mr. Samuel Alagkora Akolgo, the Second Vice President, Mr. Daniel Attah-Tuffour, and the General Secretary, Dr. David Tenkorang Twum.

Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, the Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, who chaired the function, expressed his concern about some individuals joining the nursing profession merely due to a lack of other job opportunities, urging nurses and midwives to view their profession as a calling and a commitment to saving lives.

The Tongraan also appealed to nurses and midwives contemplating emigration to remain in the country and serve, while the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Association, Mr. Thomas Lambon, expressed gratitude to the national leadership for supporting the construction of the secretariat and guest house project and encouraged members to stay united.