Story: Benjamin Makafui Attipoe, Ho
The Volta Regional branch of the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG), has called on health authorities to promote fairness in the treatment of nurses and midwives while improving working conditions, particularly for staff serving in deprived communities.
The appeal was made by the Volta Regional President of the Union, Mr. Famous Agbenyefia Attipoe, during the Union’s Regional Durbar held at the Volta Regional capital of Ho.
Mr. Attipoe expressed concern over what he described as unfair labour practices in some health facilities in the region, citing incidents where disciplinary measures were allegedly imposed on some staff without due process.
He mentioned a case in a Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) facility in the region where a nurse was reportedly assigned fourteen consecutive 12-hour night shifts in addition to normal daytime duties as punishment for alleged negligence. He also cited the transfer of a neonatal intensive care specialist to an emergency unit after failing to attend a perinatal audit meeting, questioning the impact such decisions could have on professional development, job satisfaction and quality healthcare delivery to clients in the region.
The Regional President stressed that while the union does not condone indiscipline, disciplinary actions should be guided by fairness, justice and respect for due process.
He further appealed to government and health authorities to grant special consideration to nurses and midwives working in deprived rural communities, arguing that although they face poor roads, inadequate telecommunications, water shortages and other challenging conditions, they are subjected to the same promotion and study leave timelines as colleagues in urban centres because their districts are administratively classified as urban.
Mr. Attipoe urged authorities to review these policies to reflect the realities of healthcare workers serving in difficult environments.
Despite the challenges, he commended the nurses and midwives who continued providing essential healthcare services during last year’s industrial action, describing their commitment to saving lives as remarkable and unmatched.
He also highlighted some achievements of the regional branch, including the processing of welfare claims for members worth Gh¢56,200 for 56 members covering health support, hospitalization, retirement and bereavement benefits.
According to him, the Union is also preparing to commence the sale of serviced plots from a 30-acre parcel of land at Takla Tokor in the Ho Municipality to members before the end of the year. The Union has also organized labour law and workers’ rights training sessions for members in collaboration with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Youth Wing.
Mr. Attipoe expressed optimism that the durbar, held on the theme, “Forging a Healthy Employer–Employee Relationship for Optimum Productivity and Job Satisfaction: A Shared Responsibility”, would provide practical solutions to strengthen industrial relations, improve job satisfaction and enhance productivity in the health sector.
In an address read for the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Volta Regional Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Ms. Faustine Asante, commended nurses and midwives in the region for their dedication and resilience in delivering quality healthcare services to clients, particularly during the recent industrial action and the floods that affected parts of the Volta Region.
Ms. Asante assured the gathering that the management of the GHS remains committed to advocating improved staffing levels, better working conditions and the provision of adequate logistics to support effective healthcare delivery. She however urged nurses and midwives to continue upholding the highest standards of professionalism, teamwork and compassionate patient care as they discharge their responsibilities to their clients.
