College of Nurses & Midwives inducts Rector, members

The Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM) has inducted Dr Gloria Achempim-Ansong as the third Rector of the council at a ceremony in Accra.

Until her induction, Dr Achempim-Ansong had served as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Adult Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, Legon.

She was also the Vice-President of the Nursing Division (2020-2024) and a member of the Governing Council of GCNM (2022-2024).

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, administered the oath of office to the new rector.

Twenty-four members and 572 associates members were also inducted into the college at the two-day ceremony.

They included 82 critical care nurses, 100 peri-operative nurses, 113 ophthalmic nurses, 154 otorhinolaryngology nurses,121 public health nurses, an infectious disease nurse and an emergency nurse.

Mr Akandoh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthen the healthcare sector and improve conditions of service for health professionals across the country.

“We urge all health workers to rededicate themselves to building a more robust healthcare system, knowing that better days lie ahead,” he said.

Mr Akandoh said the government was committed to introducing an incentive package that would provide an additional 20 per cent of basic pay as an allowance for nurses who choose to serve in rural and hard-to-reach communities.

He also said that the government was engaging with bilateral partners, including the US, the U K, Germany, Barbados, and Seychelles, among others, to ensure that nurses receive appropriate certification and placement that aligned with their qualifications.

Mr Akandoh commended the new inductees for their decision to pursue specialised training in nursing and midwifery, calling it a “testament to their commitment to excellence and their crucial role in shaping the future of health care in the country.” 

Appeal

The President of GCNM, Prof. Victoria Bam, appealed to the government and stakeholders to support the construction of a permanent facility for the college.

She also called for an increase in sponsorship for residents, especially those from deprived areas, to enable the college to provide specialist nurses and midwives across the country.

Prof. Bam lauded the outgoing rector for her dedication over the past eight years during which the college saw significant progress.

Specialisation

An Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, Prof. Lilian Ohene, said specialisation in nursing and midwifery involved advanced training that equipped professionals with expert knowledge in specific fields such as paediatric nursing, geriatric care, oncology, critical care, and mental health, among others.

Those specialisations, she said, would enable healthcare workers to develop enhanced competencies to improve the quality of care provided to patients.

Prof. Ohene, however, said that “the country’s nurse-to-population ratio stood at approximately 0.6 nurses per 1,000 people which was far below the WHO’s recommended standard of 3.5 nurses per 1,000 people”.

She, therefore, called on the government to prioritise investment in nursing and midwifery specialisation, adding that “such an initiative aligns with global health goals, particularly the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Three, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promotion of well-being for all”.

Appreciation

Dr Achempim-Ansong thanked the college for the trust placed in her, adding that her appointment was not only a personal milestone but a commitment to advance nursing and midwifery education in the country and beyond.

She presented five key areas - enhancing curriculum, integrating innovative teaching methodologies, strengthening partnerships and recognition, promoting research and innovation and enhancing community engagement and advocacy, as her priorities.

Dr Achempim-Ansong reaffirmed her commitment to work closely with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to expand the college’s infrastructure and capacity.

She called on faculty, staff, residents, healthcare institutions, policymakers and stakeholders to support her achieve her vision.