Registered nurses and midwives threaten strike

The National executives of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, has given government and other stakeholders in the health sector an ultimatum to address issues confronting members.

The Association said if their grievances are not met, they would withdraw their services in the subsequent weeks.

Addressing a news conference in Accra, Kwaku Asante-Krobea, the President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), said, “We put on record that since the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure nurses and midwives are the only core health care professionals who have not embarked on any strike or lockout.”

“This is not because we are so satisfied with our placement on the structure and the amount of money,but rather we have always believed dialogue can resolve our issues but now we think otherwise.”

“In view of all the above, the road map of action by the Association is as follows; from 1st to 6^th November, 2016, there will be the wearing of red bands, 7^th to 13^th November 2016, withdrawal of all OPD services, only emergency and maternity cases will receive attention; and 14th November 2016 onwards, industrial action begins, withdrawal of all services with only in-patients will be cared for with psychiatric nurses and midwives in the Ashanti Region coming along within the road map,” he said.

Mr Asante-Krobea on the second tier pension scheme, called on government to abide by the out-of-court settlement decision and ensure that the purpose for which the pension reforms were developed was achieved.

He also called on government to ensure due diligence towards the promise on the restoration of student nurses and midwives' allowances.

“We expect that by the close of this month or November, these allowances will be paid; but not a pittance of GH¢ 150.00. We demand for these trainees for the reasons adduced earlier, that government must pay them not less than GH¢ 500.00 a month through their respective banks,” he said.

Mr. Asante-Krobea urged government to ensure that all the allowances due nurses and midwives were being paid from the consolidated fund just like it had been done for other health professionals.

On the collapse of Psychiatric hospitals, the President of the GRNMA called on government and all its stakeholders to resource the Accra Psychiatric Hospital as a matter of urgency to prevent the relapse of patients and the endangerment of the lives of nurses.

He criticized how fees were being charged from nurses and midwives due for promotion by their employers and therefore called on the Director General of the Ghana Health Service to halt such arrangement and advice employers to desist from the practice in the coming years

“If the trend continues next year, the Association will definitely advise itself,” he said.

Mr Asante-Krobea also called for the abolishing of the three months salary arrears policy initiated by government as it was making life more difficult for new entrants and nurses and midwives who get promoted.

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