The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Prince Opuni Frimpong has expressed worry over how nurses are being treated and intimidated by their employers including patients in the country.
According to him, due to their training, nurses, midwives, Physician Assistants, and other health workers are noble but the people they render i services to, including patients, employers among others take advantage of their nobility to intimidate them.
His comments come after the GRNMA and its allied association i.e Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaethetists, embarked on strike on Monday, September 22, 2020 over government’s failure to meet deadline for the implementation date of an agreed Conditions of Service.
Speaking with Adwoa Mirekua Ampomah on Perspective, a segment on Atinka TV’s Morning show, Ghana Nie, Opuni Frimpong said, “Some patients attack nurses and midwives but because of our training, we do not retaliate. Everybody should know that the nurses of yesterday, the midwives of yesterday are not the same people now.”
Also speaking on the strike, he was of the view that government was in a better position to meet their needs, adding that whatever they are asking for is not outrageous.
“We are human beings and we will not ask for anything outrageous to bring down the nation. All the things we are requesting for is doable, it can be done, and it is not outrageous. Are the employers saying that our services are not important?” he quizzed.
Opuni Frimpong said the Association has not been directed by its national executives over any injunction and therefore, the strike will continue.
“The Police were being used to force the nurses to go to work, and some were being threatened of losing their jobs. The employer should tell us they will do what we are requesting for us and when we see that it has been documented, we will call off the strike. Some of the things we are requesting for do not even need negotiations, it just needs approval and well documented and we will go back to work,” he said.
For clients, Opuni Frimpong said, “It is not our will to go on strike, but a facility like 37 military Hospital is working, and therefore they should seek healthcare from other places. They should talk to our employers and tell them to admit that nurses deserve what they are asking for.”
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
