Ms Mabel Mantey, the Women’s Commissioner of the Students Representation Council (SRC) of the Pentecost University College, has urged government to engage private nursing students just as it engages those in government institutions.

“Government engages more nurses from the public nursing institutions so most people patronise the government institutions with the hope of securing jobs after school, and that affects enrolment in private nursing training schools, which are equally doing good jobs in the health sector,” she said.

Ms Mantey said this on Saturday during a free health screening and medication exercise organised for more than 500 residents of the Israel Community in Accra.

The exercise, which was on the theme: “A Healthy Community, A Healthy Nation,” was organised by the nursing students of Pentecost University College, in collaboration with nurses from the Ga Central Municipal Health Directorate. Ms Mantey said: “We are using this campaign to tell government that in our own way we are also contributing so they should find a way to bring us on board in everything we do.”

She also pleaded with the government to consider extending nurses training allowance to cover those in private nursing training institutions as well as students studying nursing at the degree level in both private and government universities.

Mr Sheriff Abdul Fathah, the Presiding Member of the Ga Central Municipal Health Directorate, lauded the Women’s Commissioner for the initiative, saying it would improve healthcare delivery in the area.

He urged individuals and philanthropic organisations to emulate the shining example of the students adding that the provision of healthcare is a shared responsibility.

“We believe that we can build a good nation with healthy people. Once the people are not healthy, it is difficult to get development, whether economic or infrastructure and that is why this programme comes in handy,” he said.

He said Ga Central was prone to diseases such as malaria, typhoid, and hypertension, therefore, the exercise would help people to know their status and take precautions.

“We will be glad to see more of these things. If everybody in their small way can organise something that looks at the well being of the people, it would slow down the attack of diseases and help the nation,” he said.

Mrs Sabina Abena Billson, the Coordinator of Bachelor of Science Nursing Programme of the Pentecost University College, said the free health screening was aimed at promoting healthy living among the public.

She said the University had provided healthcare services to a number of communities adding; “The University was adjudged the best blood donating institution in the southern sector of the national blood banking exercise with 150 and 70 units of blood donated in two separate exercises.”

Madam Grace Doodoo, the Health Promotion Officer of the Ga Central Municipal Health Directorate, advised the public to go for regular medical checkups and also exercise regularly adding; “Exercising serves as a painkiller to the body.”

Mr Adjei Kojo Agyeampong, a Nursing Student at the University, who gave a talk on ‘Anaemia,’ exhorted the Community members to eat foods that were rich in nutrients to boost their blood levels and avoid self-medication.

The screening exercise checked for HIV, Blood Pressure, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Sickle cell and Breast Cancer.

Drugs including anti-malarial, blood tonics, painkillers, de-wormer, and pain relieve ointments were distributed to participants of the exercise.