President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, disclosed that approximately 6,000 nurses have departed Ghana in pursuit of better prospects since August 2023.
She added, “We have been collating the numbers from August last year till date.”
Ofori-Ampofo highlighted that these individuals sought opportunities elsewhere due to inadequate salaries. She shared these insights during an appearance on TV3’s Hot Issues program on Sunday, March 31.
Ofori-Ampofo said, “When we had to send student trainees to these rural areas, you would see first-hand the trouble people have to go through just to provide service or live in such areas, and it hasn’t changed over the years. It is still the same.”
Ofori-Ampofo also mentioned to TV3’s Keminni Amanor that certain nurses are being assigned to work in mud houses, and many of them are unwilling to accept placements in such rural areas. Additionally, she emphasised the urgent need for assistance in the health sector, stressing that infrastructural development is paramount and extends beyond the provision of medical supply drones.
“The health sector needs more improvement than just drones. We need to improve and ensure that the equipment we need and the medications we need are always available. Storage systems are available.
“If they were there and you had storage to ensure that you kept those medications at the right temperature or the blood at the right [place], why would you need a drone to deliver it from somewhere else?” she quizzed.
She also noted that “when you talk about the health system, it needs to be a more coordinated effort with all sectors. So, transport or road networks, housing, utilities. All those things, everything needs to work together for the good of the community in which Ghanaians are living.”