Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 19 July '99,

Nursing Training Colleges have been upgraded to diploma awarding institutions, Mr Maxwell Gyamfi, Deputy Director of Nursing Services in-charge of the Nursing Training College (NTC) in Kumasi said on Saturday.

He said more programmes to prepare specialised practitioners at graduate levels are being implemented.

Mr Gyamfi was speaking on the topic: "Nursing education, which way forward", at the second symposium organised by Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees' Association (GNMTA) as part of its week-long celebration in Kumasi.

The theme for the symposium was "Scientific health delivery, the nurse's responsibility".

Students attended it from Nursing training colleges in Kumasi, Agogo and Berekum.

Mr Gyamfi said nursing could not remain static since the development of society influences nursing practice.

He indicated that education for nursing now places more emphasis on the behavioural sciences, explaining that, knowledge gathered from experience and observation only and the memorisation of procedures and routines are no longer adequate.

The Deputy Director stressed the need for the turning out of high calibre nurses committed and knowledgeable in social sciences to meet demands of the day.

Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, said most people are dying from various diseases that can be prevented.

He pointed that the objective of the Ministry of Health is to provide make quality health services accessible to the people.

Dr Appiah-Denkyira said the ministry is now working out strategies to support health delivery providers to enable it to achieve its objectives.

GRi