Accra, Oct. 6, GNA - Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), Minister of Health, on Friday challenged nurses and midwives to strive to be agents of change in their line of duty to maintain a healthy population. "The time has come for us health professionals to challenge food vendors, who sell at unhygienic places, people who throw things about in our various communities in order to prevent preventable diseases plaguing the populace,=94 he said.

Addressing 354 newly qualified nurses and midwives at the first-ever induction ceremony in Accra, Major Quashigah said: "In doing this you would be accorded more respect as a professional." The inductees were from Nursing and Midwifery schools in the Western, Central, Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra Regions. In all 1,078 Nurses and Midwives, who qualified this year, would be inducted into office at separate functions.

Major Quashigah said the health of the populace was degenerating because of lack of education on nutrition and deteriorating hygienic practices and appealed to the Nurses and Midwives Council to alter the curriculum to offer more time for nutrition. "This is the only way that they would be able to advise mothers and patients on the need for good nutritional issues that would promote good health," he said.

He pledged Government's readiness to provide good facilities at various medical centres as well as improve conditions of service of health professionals.

Major Quashigah expressed concern about the deplorable reception given by some health professionals to patients, saying "some of the attitudes displayed by some health professionals could even kill you before your death".

He told the nurses and midwives that they had roles to play in reducing child and maternal mortality.

"You must make sure that no woman or child dies in your hand; you have to educate them especially on nutrition."

On the National Health Insurance Scheme, he deplored the behaviour of some health professionals, who attended to patients that paid monies for their services before attending to those under the scheme. "That practice must end today else if I hear of such complaints, that person would be dealt with."

Ms Veronica Darko, Registrar and Chief Executive of the Nurses and Midwives Council, announced that by next December, the first two batches of nurses and midwives would go through a programme for the award of diploma certificates.

"Although the Council does not award diploma certificates, it was very much involved in efforts to get the University of Ghana to issue you with Diploma in Nursing or Midwifery Certificate."

Ms Darko told the newly inducted nurses and midwives to be submissive to their superiors and accord them respect at all times. "It is only when you exhibit such attitudes that they will feel duty-bound to teach you the nitty-gritty of the profession," she said. Ms Darko emphasized that their profession, which was demanding and challenging, was not an easy one as they would be expected to make themselves available at odd hours.

In spite of the stressful nature, she said, they should maintain their composure at all times and strictly abide by the code of ethics as well as treat their patients courteously.

The inductees after receiving copies of their Code of Conduct pledged their commitment to protect and safeguard human life. The Nurses and Midwives Council used the occasion to outdoor its Friday wear.