Five pregnant health trainees sacked

Five trainee health workers employed under the National Youth Employment Programme in the Tamale metropolis have been dismissed for carrying pregnancies.

According to the metropolitan Chief Executive, Mohammed Amin Anda, the dismissal is in line with the policy of the Ghana Health Service Training Institute.

Fifteen others employed under the community teaching assistance scheme, have also been sacked for deserting their post.

He made the disclosures when he conducted journalists round the campus of the Tamale Polytechnic where 760 health extension officers were undergoing training.

According to Joy News' Northern regional correspondent, Mahama Shaibu, the Tamale Municipal Chief Executive was accompanied by the regional coordinator of the programme, Haruna Iddrisu, who explained that the dismissed pregnant trainees could re-apply for re-engagement after delivery.

The health trainees were expected to be deployed in various health posts in rural communities.

Mr. Anda advised the trainees to take their training seriously since they would be dealing with lives and warned that those who refused to accept postings to rural areas would be withdrawn from the scheme.

The scheme has so far engaged 1536 youths in the region in waste management, community education teaching, healthcare extension, community protection and other areas.

Haruna Iddrisu advised those engaged under the community protection scheme, popularly called community police to refrain from arrests since they were not mandated to do so. He also urged communities to accept and assist volunteers posted to their areas.