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The Rector of the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM), Ms. Hannah Akua Oparebea Acquah has disclosed that, the best way to avoid current surge in exodus of Nurses and Midwives to developed countries in search for greener pastures is to motivate and provide more opportunities for professional growth through higher education and commensurate salaries and conditions of service.

According to her, the college advocates for policy to encourage professional Nurses and midwives to specialize areas of their interests to propel the Nursing and Midwifery professions in Ghana to be abreast with global trends and be able to provide population specific.

Speaking at the 9th annual General meeting and 5th seminar for the college, she said the support in terms of placement and recognition of our graduates by our largest employers MOH, GHS, and CHAG are commendable!

"Today, Specialists of GCNM are rightly placed on the Single Spine Salary Scale, and we believe that when they are given the needed physical space to practice, the Nurse and Midwife Specialists will effectively and efficiently contribute their quota to the healthcare delivery system towards achieving Universal Health Coverage," she added.

The College advocates for a policy that will encourage professional nurses and midwives to specialize in areas of their interest to propel the Nursing and Midwifery professions in Ghana to be abreast with global trends and be able to provide population-specific, disease-specific rather than general care for better healthcare outcomes. This will also require an appreciable increase in the release of practicing Nurses and Midwives with paid study leave.

While we appreciate the former Minister’s kind gesture in providing the College with office space, we would appreciate it if the Honourable Minister leads in the development of the College’s office complex on the 2-acre land acquired at the University of Ghana.

Looking into the next year, the College will finalize its 10-year strategic plan, which will project and direct the realization of its priority objectives. We will continue to develop faculty capacity through our Fellowship programmes and strive towards achieving the status of a college of excellence in Africa and beyond.

The leadership of the College will continue to work towards decentralizing further the specialist education of nurses and midwives across the country by engaging more training centers and developing new programmes based on national and professional needs. We will aggressively seek sponsorship for our residency.