Retired Nurses Asked to Return Amid Nationwide Health Crisis

Retired Nurses Asked to Return Amid Nationwide Health Crisis

Retired Nurses Asked to Return Amid Nationwide Health Crisis; As part of its response to the ongoing GRNMA (Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association) strike, the Government of Ghana has officially called on retired nurses and midwives to step in temporarily and help sustain healthcare delivery across the country.

Government’s Call to Retired Nurses:

Who made the call?
The Ministry of Health, supported by the Ghana Health Service, is urging retired professionals to volunteer their services during the strike period.

Why?
With thousands of nurses and midwives off duty, the health sector is facing severe staffing shortages. The government believes retired nurses can help stabilize operations in key facilities, especially in emergency units and rural clinics.

How will it work?
A temporary deployment framework is being developed. This may include:

• • Prioritizing retirees who left within the past 5 years.

  • Offering short-term contracts or allowances as incentives.

  • Deploying retirees near their local communities to ease logistics.

Health Minister’s Statement:

Dr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh emphasized that the appeal is not a long-term replacement plan but an emergency measure:

“We’re asking for the support of our experienced retired nurses and midwives to help us protect lives during this very difficult moment.”

 Reactions:

• Some civil society groups have welcomed the move, calling it a smart stopgap.

• Critics argue that this may not be sustainable, and risks overburdening older professionals.

• GRNMA has not officially responded to the call, but union supporters say it highlights the system’s dependence on nurses, underscoring the urgency to resolve the strike.

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