The Ghana Medical Association is calling for the cancellation of certificate and diploma nursing programmes.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for the cancellation of certificate and diploma nursing programmes, in a move aimed at elevating nursing training and education in the country.
The Vice-President of GMA, Prof Ernest Yorke, said having three different entryways into the nursing profession is bizarre. He has also called for all nursing training to be elevated to the degree level to enhance their service delivery.
The GMA’s Vice-President, Professor Ernest Yorke, argued that the current system is bizarre and does not adequately address the challenges in the country’s healthcare sector.
Speaking to JoyNews on Wednesday, Prof. Yorke noted that having three different levels of entry into the nursing and midwifery profession was perplexing.
He said the situation has left the health sector with an overwhelming percentage of auxiliary nurses approximately 60% of the workforce.
He believes the situation must be reversed such that degree-prepared nurses make up the majority.
“We have to cancel certificate programs, we have to cancel diploma programs, and train nurses and midwives at the degree level,” he stated.
Prof Yorke said Ghana has the necessary resources and educational institutions to raise the professional qualification standards and must do so.
He believes preparing all nurses at a level will significantly improve maternal health indicators as well as other health related indicators.
What Happens to Existing Nurses with Diploma and Certificate ?
In response to what happens to existing diploma and certificate holders, he said when the certificate and diploma programmes are cancelled, existing nurses with those qualifications can be upgraded by enrolling them on already available degree courses.
“Existing nurses are indeed professional nurses, their qualifications must be enhanced to improve the quality of their services”, he added.
What are Accredited Nursing Training Colleges?
To talk about the meaning of Accredited Nursing Training Colleges, they are the number of nursing training colleges that have been evaluated and recognised as meeting certain standard of quality and accredibility by a recognized accredited agency in Ghana called the national accreditation board.
Below are the List of Accredited Nursing Training Colleges in Ghana
1. Presbyterian College of Nursing and Midwifery, Dormaa Ahenkro
2. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Drobo
3. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Sunyani
4. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Odumasi Krobo
5. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Osiem
6. Community Health Nursing and Midwifery, Akim Oda
7. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Keta
8. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kete Krakyi
9. Midwifery Training College, Hohoe
College of Nursing and Midwifery, Koforidua
10. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Atibie
11. College of Nursing, Nkawkaw
12. College of Nursing and Midwifery, Teshie
13. Methodist Health Training Institute, Afosu
14. St Joseph’s College of Nursing, Jirapa
15. St Joseph’s Midwifery Training College, Jirapa
16. Midwifery Training College, Tumu
Is 2024/2025 Nursing Training College Admission Opened?
The Ministry of Health has announced that it has successfully opened the 2024/2025 nursing training college admission portal for all interested applicants.
The Ministry of Health is hereby requesting applications from qualified interested persons for intry into the college of Health Training Institute.
Nursing and Midwifery Admission 2024, Forms, Requirements and Deadline