Multiple award winning nurse Mr. Owusu calls for special incentives for rural nurses
Multiple Award winning Rural Nurse, Mr. Fosu Owusu-Ansah Benjamin has lamented that enough have not been done to ensuring that doctors and nurses posted to deprived communities discharge their duties under better condition of service.
According to Fosu Owusu-Ansah Benjamin, the government needs to put in place, proper incentive packages, both monetary and non-monetary, to attract and retain health workers in deprived communities.
Mr Benjamin Fosu Owusu-Ansah, a Nurse at Amaning CHPS compound in Offinso South Municipal of the Ashanti Region was awarded as the winner of the Special Category Awards (Mrs Ruth Aku Gyang Rural Service Award 2022.
The 3rd National Annual Dinner and Awards on Friday, 16th December, 2022, held at Kempiski hotel in Accra was organized by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association(GRNMA,member of International Council of Nurses.ICN
The award scheme recognize rural health workers who have used their profession to benefit their catchment areas through social intervention initiatives and healthcare assistance.
The unmatched track records of Mr. Fosu Owusu-Ansah Benjamin, have tremendously put smile on the face of many community folks in Amaning, Bonsua, Namong, Offinso, Wawase, Abofour,Kwapaning Gambia Nkwanta and others.
His restless community engagement have attracted the attention of local and international philanthropists and donors to supply hospital equipment, solar light, refrigerators, beds, drugs, personal protective equipment (PPE’s) and have undertook major refurnishing and renovation of several health facilities in Offinso South.
Moreover, supply of food items to support the needy and the aged in villages is another pro-poor initiative he has embarked on for years.
However, Mr. Fosu Owusu-Ansah Benjamin speaking in an interview with Kaakyire Kwasi Afari of Koforidua based Afeema FM radio station, he said, prioritizing the working conditions of Ghanaian nurses and midwives in rural areas will minimize the increasing trend of rejecting postings to rural health facilities.
The award winner bemoan poor working conditions ranging from poor salaries, poor service and retirement packages, lack of accomodations and motivation have caused many nurses and the midwives to migrate to urban areas to search for greener pastures.
He emphasized the call on authorities to introduce flexible Education incentive packages for health workers posted to rural areas.
“due to limited number of health workers in rural areas, you can’t abandon the community to further your education. So my brother, common study leave to study is our major issue” he lamented.
However, he reiterated his commitment to improve the health condition of patients in Offinso and the Ashanti region at large.
The multiple Award winning rural nurse suggested to Kaakyire Kwasi Afari that the only way brain drain can be minimized is for the government to commit itself to improving the working conditions of Ghanaian nurses and midwives in rural areas.
He added that, provision of accomodations, prompt payment of categories allowances and fuel allowances will motivate them to accept postings and help them stay and work in rural areas rather than seeking greener pastures in cities.
For him, he said, if the government as the employer takes steps to address some of these issues, it will motivate him and his colleague nurses and midwives to continue providing the required quality nursing and midwifery services to rural communities
“I personally pay for fuel to fill my own motorbike so that I can go to the villages to take care of the sick without fuel allowance or any source of motivation, but I’m not relent on my job. My brother, frankly speaking our condition of service needs to be improved and at least they must pay us fuel allowance to get some of us motivated” he added.
Source: Filasconews.com/Kaakyire Kwasi Afari(Afeemafm)
