Nurses undergo human rights training

The first batch of 150 newly appointed nurses who underwent a training course in basic human rights at the Ho Nurses Training College have graduated.

The course was designed to sensitise and enlighten the nurses on patients’ rights,  as well as rights and responsibilities of nurses. At the end of the programme, the nurses were presented with diploma certificates at a short ceremony in Ho.

The training was organised by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The objective of the course was to promote efficient service delivery in hospitals and other health institutions by reducing human right abuses.

The course took into consideration the combined effects of the Patient’s Charter and the Nurses’ Pledge, including the promotion of human rights in health facilities.

Ongoing training

So far, about 2,200 practitioners stand to benefit from the programme which is being run in 10 nurses training colleges nationwide, including the Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching hospitals.

At the graduation ceremony, Mr Samuel Bosompem, the Deputy Director of Public Education at CHRAJ, disclosed that the course was instituted to correct some anomalies in the health sector with regard to issues of human rights abuses.

According to him, there had been numerous complaints by patients against officials of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) over the years concerning indiscipline, the  use of abusive language, discrimination, extortion and negligence.

He stated that human rights abuses reportedly occurred through the acts and omissions exhibited by nurses who were impatient. Some nurses, he said, were apathetic towards the healthcare needs of patients.

Health is human right

Mr Bosompem observed that health was a right recognised by human rights institutions.

‘It is well articulated by the WHO in whose 1946 constitution,  health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,’ he indicated.

He said due to the importance of dealing with human rights issues, the commission had decided to replicate the training programme in hospitals all over the country.

High patronage

The Volta Regional Director of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Nuertey, said nurses who attended the course were punctual and showed  high interest by way of their contributions to lessons that were taught and attendance.

This, he observed, showed that they were prepared to promote and uphold human rights wherever they found themselves as health practitioners.

He urged them to be compassionate towards their patients and also help improve upon the quality of health delivery in the country.