. EAST NURSES CONDEMN MRDER OF COLLEAGUE (PAGE 31, APRIL 20, 2010)

THE Upper East Region branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) has condemned the recent attack and killing of a nurse in Bawku.
They have, therefore, appealed to the people in the conflict area to embrace peace rather than resorting to violence.
On Thursday, April 1, 2010, a Deputy Nurse Anaesthetist at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Mr Samuel Ayamba Akolgo, was pulled out of a vehicle and lynched.
The Regional Secretary of the GRNA, Mr Samuel Akolgo, told the Daily Graphic during the annual week celebration of the GRNA at Bolgatanga that the association would not hesitate to withdraw their services if the security situation did not improve.
He said most of their colleagues, especially those working in the conflict area, were now living in a state of fear while others had lost their property due to the protracted nature of the conflict.
Mr Akolgo, therefore, challenged the the government and the security agencies to improve security situation in the area.
The week was celebrated on the theme: "Moving nursing into professional excellence.”
As part of the celebration, members of the association organised a health walk through the principal streets of Bolgatanga to draw public attention to the importance of physical exercise.
The association also mobilised a team of medical assistants, dental, ear, nose and throat professionals to screen members of the public.
The regional GRNA secretary said although the GRNA appreciated the government's efforts to improve conditions of service of health workers, there were still issues that needed urgent attention.
He called for negotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement submitted in 2008 to address the grievances to motivate them to perform better in health delivery.
Mr Akolgo said the association was watching keenly the issue of duty allowance and expressed the hope that their employer would not make the mistake of the past by listening to one section of the health workers.
He urged nurses to be devoted to their duty and demonstrate their respect for human life and dignity since the attitude of some nurses had been in question in recent times.
Mr Akolgo also charged nurses to respect the Ghana Health Service Code of Ethics for the nursing profession.