Sefwi wiawso: Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, has embarked on a day's working visit to the Western North Region to familiarise himself with the operations of the area. The visit aimed to engage with local health professionals and discuss potential programmes to enhance the health sector's development.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sefwi Juaboso, visited various agencies under the Ministry of Health. This provided an opportunity to interact with staff and gather crucial information for policy direction in the region. The visit also included a meeting with the Sefwi Wiawso Nursing and Midwifery College, where the Minister highlighted the government's efforts to pay nurses' allowances without arrears and implement the 'No Fees Stress' initiative for first-year students.
Mr Akandoh announced plans to introduce degree programmes in nursing training institutions and establish a new training institution in the Juaboso district. He assured that current final-year students would be able to write their licensure exams in their own institutions and mentioned that the government would sponsor 15 nursing training tutors to upgrade to PhD degrees. Additionally, the Minister donated healthcare equipment to the newly established government hospital at Sefwi Asawinso.
During the visit, Mr Wilbert Petty Brentum, the Western North Regional Minister, welcomed the Health Minister and outlined some challenges facing healthcare delivery in the region, emphasizing the need for urgent solutions. Accompanying the Minister were the Director General for Ghana Health Services, Members of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso and Akontombra, the Regional Health Director, and other local officials.
