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The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has recommended discontinuing certificate and diploma nursing programs, advocating for the elevation of all nursing education to the degree level.
This major reform aims to tackle challenges in the nation’s healthcare sector by creating a more qualified and professional nursing workforce.
Prof. Ernest Yorke, Vice President of the GMA, announced this proposal during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, calling the current system “bizarre.”
He emphasized the confusion of having three different entry levels into the nursing and midwifery profession and pointed out that auxiliary nurses, who make up nearly 60% of the workforce, currently dominate the field.
“We believe the majority should be degree-prepared,” Yorke asserted, emphasizing the need for a more skilled nursing workforce.
Prof. Yorke stated, “We need to eliminate certificate programs, eliminate diploma programs, and train nurses and midwives at the degree level.”
Citing Nigeria as an example, where registered nurses and midwives are required to have a first degree, Prof. Yorke argued that Ghana has the necessary resources and educational institutions to adopt similar standards.
“We have the human resources and the schools, so we can achieve this,” he affirmed.
Yorke elaborated that the predominance of auxiliary nurses, comprising about 60% of the workforce, should be addressed by improving their qualifications.
“Diploma and degree-trained nurses and midwives are professional nurses,” he noted.
Yorke believes that preparing all nurses at the baccalaureate level will significantly enhance maternal health indicators, supported by research on the effectiveness of a highly skilled nursing workforce.
He assured that current certificate and diploma holders would not be neglected.
“If we discontinue the training of diploma and certificate holders, we can upgrade the knowledge of those currently in the field,” Yorke explained.
He mentioned that there are already courses available to help nurses and midwives advance their skills to the degree level.
The GMA’s proposal represents a bold step towards raising the standards of nursing education in Ghana, aiming to build a more competent and professional healthcare system.
