Tamale: Mr Kwabena Akandoh Mintah, Minister for Health, has unveiled a government initiative aimed at supporting nursing tutors in pursuing PhD programmes to bolster nursing education and healthcare delivery. The programme, set to commence this year, will initially sponsor 15 to 20 nursing tutors, with plans to sustain this support annually to create a pool of highly qualified educators for the country's training institutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister announced the initiative at the 5th Nursing and Midwifery Excellence and Hall of Fame Awards ceremony held in Tamale. He emphasized the potential long-term impact, stating, "Even if we are able to support 15 tutors every year, what that means is that at the end of our four years tenure, we should be able to support a minimum of 60 tutors to pursue PhD programmes, and that will play a critical role in training our nursing professionals for quality healthcare delivery in the country."
The awards ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Health, gathered nurses, midwives, and other health professionals nationwide to discuss holistic healthcare delivery. The event culminated in the recognition of 25 individuals for their excellence in various categories, such as Clinical Practice, Leadership and Governance, Education and Research, and service in deprived communities. Additionally, three eminent personalities were inducted into the Nursing and Midwifery Hall of Fame.
Mr Akandoh, serving as the Special Guest of Honour, reaffirmed the government's commitment to tackling issues like staff migration through a Health Migration Strategy, which aims to benefit from global mobility while retaining essential staff within the country. Dr Chrysantus Kubio, Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, who chaired the event, praised the awardees for their dedication and urged stakeholders to create environments conducive to professional growth.
Dr Barnabas Yeboah, Registrar of the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, highlighted that since the awards' inception, 125 nurses and midwives, along with 10 non-nursing professionals, had been recognized for their contributions to the profession. The ceremony attracted key health sector stakeholders, including senior nursing and midwifery leaders.
