The Ministry of Health says processes are far advanced to secure financial clearance for all graduate unemployed nurses and midwives from the 2020 to 2022 batches of trainees.
But the nurses say they doubt the assurance, demanding specific timelines for their employment from the Ministry.
The graduate unemployed trainee nurses and midwives have over the weeks registered their frustrations with what they say is the government’s neglect to offer them clearance and permanent employment.
The backlog of trainees are from the 2020, 2021, and 2022 graduates from the various accredited public universities and training colleges. The trainees who have successfully passed their Nursing and Midwifery Council Licensing exam have remained home, awaiting clearance for employment.
They are threatening to picket at the Ministry of Health this week, raising concerns about skills decay as they remain home idle while some others are venturing into menial jobs.
The Ministry, in an interview with 3news.com, has assured that processes are on course towards their clearance and engagement. The Public Relations officer of the Ministry of Health, Isaac Ofe Baah, says the mother body of the nurses and midwives is aware of the progress made so far.
He said that ‘‘we are pleading with them to exercise patience with us. The Ministry is working hard to ensure their concerns are addressed. The Chief Director has even scheduled a meeting with the Finance Ministry, so we are working on it. Their mother body the NMC is aware of the progress being made’’.
But the group says they want timelines. Janet Tagoe is a general nurse of the 2020 batch and one of the leaders of the group.
‘‘Imagine being home since 2020. You complete school and become a burden to your family and yourself. Nursing involves practicals. When you sit at home for long you forget some of the things. Some of us are currently doing other things to survive while we wait for the clearance. We are not aware of any process started. If so, then when exactly are they going to post us? We want to know’’ she lamented.
Sarah Apenkroh 3news.com