Mrs Eva Mensah, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has revealed that 62 per cent of Senior High Schools in Ghana do not have nurses stationed in their infirmaries.
Speaking at the Senior Nursing and Midwifery Managers Conference held in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, Mrs Mensah expressed concern that the absence of qualified health personnel jeopardises student safety, particularly for those with chronic conditions such as type-1 diabetes, asthma, and kidney problems.
The conference, held under the theme “Re-strengthening Nursing and Midwifery Service Delivery in Primary Healthcare towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage: The Role of Nursing and Midwifery Leaders”, highlighted urgent reforms needed in school healthcare.
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“The lack of qualified nurses in schools has serious implications for the health and safety of students. Reports of student deaths in infirmaries underline the need for immediate action,” Mrs Mensah stated.
To address this, the GHS plans to roll out a school nursing initiative, ensuring equitable distribution of nurses across the country’s schools. Mrs Mensah also outlined strategies to improve and regulate nursing and midwifery practice, including the Digital and Paediatric Nursing Improvement Programme, which leverages e-learning platforms to provide professional guides and protocols.
“About 15,000 nurses have enrolled in this programme, with 12,000 completing foundational standards for nursing practice,” she said.
In addition, Mrs Mensah announced plans to formalise home care services, supervised by hospital and district managers, to guarantee regulated care for discharged patients.
Ms Ida Ngyedu, representing the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), emphasised the importance of upholding high standards in daily clinical work. She highlighted the Professional Code of Conduct and Licence Renewal Mechanism as essential tools for public protection and continuous professional competence.
Ms Ngyedu also called on managers to curb professional misconduct, particularly inappropriate use of social media, citing examples of improper uniform display and unauthorised sharing of educational content.
The conference underscored the critical role of nursing and midwifery leaders in ensuring student safety, professional accountability, and the delivery of high-quality healthcare across Ghana.
