Esiama (W/R) August 21 - GNA - The Ministry of Health (MOH) has reviewed the bonding of Nurses trained with the tax payer's money as a strategy to discourage them from leaving the country soon after their training.

Dr. Yaw Antwi-Boasiako, Director of Human Resources for Health Development of the MOH who disclosed this at the first graduation ceremony of the Word Alive School of Nursing at Esiama in the Western Region on Saturday did not elaborate.

In all 55 students made up of 21 from the 2001-2003 group and 34 from the 2002-2004 group graduated in Community Health Nursing.

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako who represented the sector Minister at the ceremony therefore, implored Nurses who have decided to leave the country on completion of the programme to rethink "because with the new strategy, you may do so at a greater price than you probably will expect." He appealed to the graduates to remain in the country to serve the people through whose sweat and toil their education was made possible. "With these huge investment in you, what will be expected of you is your dedication to service to the nation", he said, adding that MOH would continue to pursue the agenda to expand the infrastructure of all health training institutions in the country.

This, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako noted, would enable these institutions to train more health professionals and also improve campus life of students and tutors.

The Ministry was pursuing an aggressive agenda that would bring the present nurses patient ratio of one to 1,500 people to one nurse to 500 people by 2015.

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako advised the graduates to regard themselves as facilitators of the Community Health Team and liase between the Sub-District Health Team and the community to ensure that the people stay healthy always.

Plans are far advanced to introduce diploma in Community Health Nursing this year to give clear career pathway and progression for Community Health Nurses who have the objective to develop themselves.

Dr. Antwi-Boasiako emphasised the need for Nurses and other health professionals to strictly observe high professional ethics, rules and regulations to avoid severe media attacks and criticism.

Reverend Charles Nyane, Executive President of Word Alive Mission said the school which began first as a bible school in 2001with 25 students now has a student population of 218 students.

He expressed gratitude to the MOH and President John Agyekum Kufuor in particular for providing a 12-unit classroom block and a 200 capacity hostel for the school.

Rev. Nyane reiterated the Mission's determination to provide avenues for young men and women to acquire skills and abilities that could transform lives and the rural communities.

He said the Mission has plans to establish a University College of Christian Environment in Nzema.

Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister said it was in recognition of the important role being played by the Mission in human resources development that the Government had invested six billion Cedis in the provision of infrastructure for the school. He said the completion of Government sponsored projects would ease office and residential accommodation and increase the intake of nursing students.

He entreated the graduates to be actively involved in the education of the people on the merits of the National Health Insurance Scheme and encourage them to register to ensure the success of the scheme. Mr. Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Ellembele commended the Word Alive Mission for its vision to establish the school to augment the Government's efforts to provide quality health service delivery to the people.

He thanked the chiefs of Esiama for releasing the land for the school and advised the graduates to exhibit a high sense of dedication. Mrs Sabina Abena Bilson, Principal of the school said the broad objective of the Mission was to train a God fearing Multi-purpose nurse who can also function effectively in the rural setting.

The graduates were presented with certificates and the deserving ones honoured with special awards. Aug. 21 05