Accra, Aug. 1, GNA - Dr Mrs Gladys Norley Ashitey, Deputy Minister of Health, on Tuesday asked health workers to emulate Florence Nightingale's sacrifice by putting the nation first and to render quality health services to the people.

She noted with sadness that the noble profession that Florence Nightingale adored so much and made popular was now "becoming something else to those at the receiving end".

Speaking at the inauguration of a clinic at the premises of the Valley View University (VVU) at Oyibi, near Accra, Dr Ashitey expressed worry over recent media reports of terrible treatment meted out to some patients in some hospitals and clinics and implored nurses to imbibe the real attributes of the nursing profession, being "service above self". She said if health workers offered selfless services to the sick, they would receive the full blessings associated with the profession. "By so doing your services would become priceless and meaningful to your cherished clients."

The 707 million-cedi community clinic was financed and built by the University in collaboration with Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA-Ghana) and ADRA-Netherlands to serve the health needs of the University community and surrounding towns.

Dr Ashitey lauded the University for being the first private University to establish a clinic on its campus to serve the communities that surrounded the institution.

She said because "health is wealth", the Government was doing everything to ensure quality health care for the people. Thus the Ministry of Health was now campaigning for a change in the health policy that would help to promote healthy lifestyles rather than the present system that emphasised the curative approach.

Dr Seth Laryea, President of Valley View University, said the clinic, named "Elemones Clinic" a Greek word meaning "Compassion Clinic", which would also serve as a learning facility for the University's nursing students, was started in September 2005 and would be officially opened in September 2006.

In an interview with the GNA, Dr Laryea said the Management would register the Clinic with the Christian Health Care Association to enable them to access some benefits including drugs at reduced prices. This would enable it to "offer affordable health care to the people around". He said the Clinic would also have the health insurance scheme after ensuring that people in the communities registered with the scheme under the Tema Municipal Assembly.

Dr Laryea appealed to the Ministry of Health to assist in the operation of the clinic by providing paid personnel to supplement the few that the hospital had.

Mr Emmanuel Kwandahor, Director, Physical Plant of the University, said a Radiology Unit, would soon be completed under the Phase Two of the Project while construction of a hospital would start in 2007. Mr Hans Ponte, Country Director of ADRA-Netherlands, said Dutch Adventists were moved to donate towards the building of the clinic so that children and women could access health care.