The Chairman National Health Service Commission (NHSC) Dr Alpha Bundu Kamara says there is need for overhauling in the nursing cadre.
He made this disclosure in an interview at the NHSC along Brookfield’s, and in a confident mood highlighted some of the gaps within the nursing cadre.
Questioned about the level of education and commitment to duty of some of the lower cadre level (frontline staff), Dr Bundu Kamara stated that there are many challenges which needs to be addressed in order to effect overhauling of an important level of nursing in the Country.
The retired health professional with a wealth of experience in public health service, recalled that many a time complaints were made to him personally about the manner in which some of the frontline nursing staff comport themselves while on duty.
He noted that it is not the responsibility of the commission to take action against frontline staff who do not behave in conformity with their profession, but the commission can advise the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to investigate and also carry out periodic on the spot checks around the various health facilities, which is the responsibility of the office of the Chief Nursing Officer, in the ministry.
Dr Kamara admitted that Government trained nurses are of high standards, despite one cannot guarantee 100% perfection, the challenge of low level performance and commitment is as a result of the many mushroom nursing schools, that have sprung up around the country in the guise of providing nursing training to those who failed to enter the Government service, as well as those who do not have the requirement to undertake nursing, but are desperate to acquire skills to earn a living.
“These are the categories that are mostly responsible for the low level of efficiency and commitment in service delivery, and I don’t blame them because they have been certified after receiving training from these illegal training schools”.
The Health Service Chairman revealed that presently there are over 4,000 State Enrolled Community Health Nurses (SECHN) awaiting absorption into the health sector, but the challenge is enumeration. However he maintained that Government through the last human resource summit held, so many issues came up surrounding the need to improve on proper health care delivery, and from recommendations very soon in collaboration with partners, the public is expected to receive an efficient service delivery at all times from frontline staff, most of whom the public complain of being busy chatting with colleagues or on line with their phones, leaving the sick unattended to, which most times become fatal.
By Ade Campbell
Monday July 18, 2016
ADVERTISEMENT