Healthcare services throughout the nation have been significantly affected as members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) persist in their strike, resulting in patients being left without care and medical facilities struggling to manage.
In the Ashanti Region, prominent hospitals such as Manhyia, South Suntreso, and Kumasi South have experienced a notable decline in healthcare delivery.
Critical departments, including family planning and specialized clinics at Manhyia Hospital, have completely ceased operations, with red bands affixed at entrances indicating the ongoing industrial action.
Dr. Adu Boakye, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Manhyia Government Hospital, voiced his concerns regarding the pressure the strike is exerting on healthcare services.
In the absence of nurses and midwives, hospital management depends on house officers and doctors to handle the overwhelming influx of patients, yet the situation continues to be difficult.
The strike, which has disrupted medical services across the country, has led to urgent calls for intervention to restore normal healthcare operations. Authorities have yet to reach an agreement with the striking nurses and midwives, leaving many patients in doubt about when full services will be reinstated.
In the meantime, physician assistants at the Volta Regional Hospital in Hohoe have assumed control of operations at the Outpatient Department (OPD), including monitoring patients’ vital signs, as the nationwide strike by nurses takes full effect in the region.
Courage Kumah, the Regional Chair of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), stated that the government must prioritize the welfare of nurses and urgently address their working conditions to resolve the deadlock.
While confirming the effective commencement of the strike across the region, Mr. Kumah also cautioned against unauthorized health personnel treating patients, highlighting potential risks to public health and safety.
