Community Health Nurses declares indefinite strike

Over 13,000 members of the Community Health Nurses Association of Ghana have declared an indefinite strike beginning from Tuesday, May 31,2016.

The action is in protest of what they described as "illegal" approach being adopted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council to have their traditional name changed from Community Health Nurses to Nurses Assistant.

Addressing a news conference in Accra on Monday the National Secretary of Community Health Nurses Association of Ghana Mr. Delima Godsway, said they arrived at the decision to lay down their tools because of the failure of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to their concerns.

"This decision has become necessary since the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services have failed to address the needs of the Community Health Nurses the country," he stated.

Mr. Delima God'sway who accused the Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council , Mr Felix Nyante of spearheading the changing of their traditional name indicated that several petitions to the Minister of Health, the Director General of Ghana Health Services, and the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services at the Ministry of Health to intervene to have the decision reversed did not yield any positive results.

He described the action by the lead agencies in the health sector as gross disrespect to the Community Health Nurses in the country.

He said although they are a strong force for primary health care delivery and serving in very remote areas where other health care professionals refuse postings, they are the least respected.

"We wish to state that we don't want to be called nurse assistants and until our grievances are addressed accordingly by the Honourable Minister of Health and the major stakeholders of health, we shall not continue to render our services to various communities in the country ," he declared.

According to Delima Godsway, their members have suffered discrimination,unfairness,and frustration for far too long warning that the only thing that will make them rescind their decision is when the Ministry Health and Ghana Health Services enters into agreement with them.

Story by : Michael Creg Afful

#News #Headlinesnews #Latestinghana