Ghana: Nurses, Midwives Threaten ‘Solidarity Strike’ Over Unemployed Colleagues

Nurses and midwives in the country have threatened to lay down their tools next week unless the government takes steps to find postings for unemployed graduate nurses and midwives.

In a press statement issued on August 31, the Coalition of Concerned Nurses and Midwives state, “some of these nurses and midwives who are professionally trained to save lives have now resorted to kayayoo [head potter] and security work [watchman], whiles patients are dying day-in and day-out due to lack of staffs in our hospitals.”

The statement, signed by its President, Henry Asante, also urged the government to put newly constructed health facilities to use to bring down the number of unemployed nurses and midwives across the country.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY COALITION OF CONCERNED NURSES AND MIDWIVES ON 31ST AUGUST, 2018 IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE UNEMPLOYED NURSES AND MIDWIVES

By this press statement, we concerned nurses and midwives want to bring to the attention of the government, and the media, our intention to embark on a strike action on 10th September, 2018 over the refusal of the government to postgraduate trained nurses and midwives who have completed school for over two years, despite the numerous picketing and demonstration by these nurses and midwives.

It’s worth knowing that, some of these nurses and midwives who are professionally trained to save lives have now resorted to kayayoo and security work (watchman), whiles patients are dying day-in and day-out due to lack of staffs in our hospitals.

Also, we have observed with keen interest that newly constructed health facilities are not being utilized due to the refusal of the government to employ these nurses and midwives to work in these facilities.

The aforementioned reasons have compelled we the coalition of concern nurses and midwives to embark on this strike action.

Thank you.

Cc. Ministry of health All media houses.

Signed by

President, Henry Asante

0204841557

P.R.O. Abdulai Rank 0204848648

Secretary: Agyapong Eva. 0201011227

Source: Myjoyonline.com