Accra: The Public Services International (PSI) has initiated the 'Supporting Health and Care Workers for Climate Resilience in Ghana' Project in Accra. The project aims to bolster the resilience and well-being of health and care workers in Ghana by addressing the effects of climate change on their working conditions and capacity to deliver care.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project focuses on improving health and safety measures, capacity building, and policy advocacy. It aims to equip health and care workers with the necessary resources, skills, and platforms to effectively manage health challenges induced by climate change. The initiative is designed to enhance the overall health and care system, enabling it to respond more effectively to climate-induced health impacts while protecting the safety, health, and rights of frontline care workers.
Madam Aisha Buhadur, Union Development Officer at PSI, highlighted the project's objectives during a two-day workshop for members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and the Health Services Workers' Union (HSWU) of TUC Ghana. Supported by Fundaci³n Avina, the project has three main goals, including improving occupational health and safety (OHS) conditions for health and care workers, particularly in response to climate-related hazards.
Madam Buhadur emphasized the importance of building the capacity of unions and their members to understand and address the impacts of climate change on care work through an Action-Based Learning approach. She noted that influencing climate and health policies to reflect the experiences, needs, and proposals of frontline care workers is a key priority of the project.
The project addresses the urgent need to tackle climate change impacts already affecting frontline health and care workers in Ghana. It aims to manage increased care demands and promote decent working conditions during transitions. Additionally, it seeks to engage health and care workers directly to understand their challenges, build their capacity, and advocate for systemic improvements.
By strengthening the capacity of health and care workers to respond to climate-induced illnesses and emergencies, the project contributes to reducing vulnerability to climate change. This includes advocacy support for climate-responsive healthcare practices and local resilience-building efforts. Madam Buhadur noted that the project indirectly supports sustainable transitions by focusing on healthcare infrastructure needs and workforce readiness in the face of climate impacts.
Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, Chair of PSI's National Coordinating Committee in Ghana, described the launch of the Climate and Care project as a defining moment for the nation's healthcare sector. He encouraged unions to include climate clauses in future Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
Mr. Bampoe Addo praised the partnership between the Health Services Workers Union (HSWU) and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), urging both unions to extend the campaign from action to collective bargaining. Madam Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, GRNMA President, stressed that frontline workers should not bear the climate burden alone but should be integral to shaping policies.
She highlighted the challenges posed by flooding, heatwaves, and rising temperatures, which have disrupted hospitals, homes, and communities. Despite being underequipped and facing unmet service conditions, care workers continue to serve citizens. The launch and training mark the beginning of a participatory and learning-focused project.
In the coming months, the project plans to enhance the resilience and well-being of health and care workers in Ghana by implementing Action-Based Learning sessions in priority districts, forming joint health and safety committees, gathering data on climate-related care burdens, and integrating this evidence into collective bargaining and national advocacy forums. This will enable GRNMA and HSWU to engage employers and the state to fulfill their policy obligations.