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Bonding; A Contract Between Trainee Nurses And The Government

By Kwame Asante 
Opinion File Photo
JUN 22, 2017 LISTEN
File Photo

The word bonding is one of the few words that become almost like a household name in the country for quiet some time now. The word is often heard whenever unposted trainee nurses embark on either picketing or demonstrations to seek postings. However, it seems people still do not understand this term.

Bonding is an agreement or a contract between trainee nurses and the government on the condition that the student( the trainee nurse ) accepts an allowance from the government whiles in school and be employed by the government right after the completion of their mandatory national service and with the clause that the trainee nurses should under no circumstance work with a private entity or even travel outside the country or oven seek for further studies until a period of five years after graduating from school.

Knowing perfectly that this is what the bonding entails, governments of these day always fail to honour their part of the contract even though the trainee nurses are being made to honour theirs whiles in school. For the past five years, there hasn't been any single year where these bonded nurses have been treated fairly when they complete their national service. Under normal circumstance, nurses should have been posted after their service but these days, nurses have to stay home for a period of one,two and three years after completion before they're finally posted and not to talk about the number of demonstrations and picketing they'll have embark on before being posted.

There was even a time where students of the Kintampo College of Health were out behind bars simply because they embarked on demonstration to seek postings. I always become sad when our leaders sit in their office unconcerned and watch these nurses hit the streets all in the name of seeking redress whiles its our duty to get them posted.

We are just six months into the Nana Addo's government and we've already had two separate demonstrations and pickettings by the unposted nurses. It has more or less become something like, each year you have to embark on demonstration before we posted so if you decide not to demonstrate, then don't think of being posted. Why should our leaders behave like donkeys who needs to be whipped before it works? Does all these show a sign of competent leadership?. What does the government take us for?.

After posting the first batch of unposted nurses in somewhere March 2017, it seems the health ministry has now relax in posting the second who picketted at the health ministry on the 8th of May 2017. Its been almost one month since they were told that their financial clearance has been released. From 8th May till now, the ministry has decided not to communicate any news of postings to them and i must say very soon, these trainee nurses will hit the streets again.

Governments of these day have failed us bitterly. When they want to be in power, they come to us in all forms of humility just like a heated male dog who wants to mate its female colleague. Once the nod is given to them, they turn away from the same promises they gave us and for this time, things of nature won't happen anymore. This selfish and greedy attitudes of our leaders must stop once and for all. How can you be treating nurses as if they're aliens. Are the not the same people that voted for you?

Finally, i will urge the health minister and his deputies that it took a very long time before Rome was built, hence they shouldn't be so much overwhelmed that they've been able to post nurses. They should try and communicate to those whose financial clearance was released in May as to when they'll be posted. People are fed up with the silence from the health ministry. They should open up and talk because it is very sad to completed school and be demonstrating before being posted.

Also, the health ministry should note that there's the last batch of the bonded nurses around ( Nurses who completed their service in February 2017 as well as allied health professionals who'll completed their service in July). This group have decided to remain silent because not because they won't act but rather, they want to give the health ministry some time.

This is the time for you Mr health minister to facilitate all processed that will lead to their financial clearance being released so that by the time they decide to demonstrate (which is the order of the day), you wouldn't have much problems. Don't wait till they hit the streets before you tell them you are working on their clearance, that will be a sign of incompetence. Honourable Agyemang Manu, please make hay whiles the sun shines.

God Bless All Nurses
God Bless All Allied Health Professionals
God Bless Us All.
Kwame Asante
Techiman.

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