"NORPRA got it all wrong' - GRNA

Bolgatanga, Oct. 31, GNA- the Upper East Regional branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association has called on the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) to put an end to the intimidating tactics against Mrs. Ruby Panou Adom, the Principal of the Midwifery Training School in Bolgatanga.

The Association told NORPRA to channel its concerns through appropriate quarters for redress. This was contained in a press statement signed by Mr. Thomas Lambon, vice chairman and Mr. Akolgo Samuel, Secretary of the association, after an emergency meeting held in Bolgatanga.

The statement indicated that the Nurses and Midwives Council Ghana delivered its mandate on setting standards, training, regulation and registration of nurses and midwives in the country to ensure public safety and therefore could not condone with malpractices that would mar the image of the profession and its members.

The statement said though the association recognized the rights and freedoms of members of NORPRA to demonstrate against any issue of concern as enshrined in the constitution of Ghana, the rights must be exercised without infringing upon the rights of others.

It stated that NORPRA's claim that students from the Midwifery Training School were dismissed was false. Explaining this further, the statement indicated that on September 30th 2011, a team from the Regional health directorate led by the Regional Director of Health Services met with the students and informed them that their sponsors could not secure their continuous stay in the school since they did not meet the minimum requirement of three years post qualification experience as stipulated by the Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana.

The statement further explained that the affected students were given options to either defer or discontinue the course which was not in anyway meant to dismiss them.

The Association said instead of NORPRA jumping into unreasonable conclusions, they should endeavour to partner the school authorities to acquire more land around the school for the expansion of infrastructural in the school.

Members of NORPRA recently held a press conference agitating for the removal of Mrs. Adom for her alleged dismissal of five students who were admitted from the Northern Region and specifically through the efforts of the Medical Superintendent of Gushegu Hospital to help with acute shortage of Midwives in the Gusheigu district.

GNA