Accra, Aug 28, GNA- The Ghana Nurse and Midwife Trainees Association (GNMTA), on Thursday urged the Nurses and Midwife Council (NMC) and the Ministry of Health to expedite action on the award of diploma certificates to all health students after their training. The Association suggested that all health training institutions, including the Nurses Training College, Community Health Nursing Schools, Midwifery Training School, Schools of Laboratory Technology, Radiology and Hygiene, be accredited by a well recognized body as a tertiary institutions with "immediate effect".

Mr Norbert Jampanah Apuri, President of the Association, on behalf of the students said should the authorities fail to tell the Association "any concrete thing by August 31, we shall register our displeasure in various forms ".

Speaking to the press in Accra, Mr Apuri said though the Association after frantic efforts on July 21st, 2003, issued a communiqu=E9 to the Minister of Health and NMC demanding a positive response on the issue, but "nothing has so far been heard".

He said the issue of accrediting the various health institutions and students with diplomas were long overdue because the institutions continue to offer Diploma programmes with additional subjects including communication skills, African Studies and Computer studies.

Mr Apuri said the academic calendars have also been programmed to depict that of the tertiary ones after the government had announced the accreditation.

He said since the announcement, the first two batches have completed their three-year courses while the third batch has completed their last semester.

Mr Apuri said though the Minister of Health, after the students' protests, directed that they be allowed to pursue the programme and that he did not understand the stance of the authorities. The Association, therefore, urged the government to consider affiliating the health institutions with the Universities taking into consideration all those who have already passed through the system "and not only those who would be admitted next year as we were told". 28 Aug. 03