Hohoe, Feb. 5, GNA - Mr Joseph Z. Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, has said plans were advanced to reactivate the defunct Worawora Nurses Training School into a Midwifery Training institution. He said feasibility studies on infrastructure were underway while issues of accreditation and other academic matters are being explored. Mr Amenowode said this at the matriculation of the third batch of 83 fresh students for the Diploma in Midwifery programme of the Hohoe Midwifery School.

He said government's efforts to improve healthcare delivery include the training of auxiliary nurses to complement the services of professional nurses and midwives.

Mr Amenowode said government's resolve to establish a University of Health and Allied Science with campuses in Ho and Hohoe Municipalities would impact positively on the Hohoe Midwifery School through inter-faculty collaboration and co-operation.

He said only 83 out of 360 qualified applicants gained admission to pursue the year's programme due to inadequacy of infrastructure, pledging government's commitment to reverse the trend. Rev Mrs Veronica Darko, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of Nurses and Midwives Council, urged students to imbibe the words of their oath carefully and be guided by it.

Dr Timothy Letsa, the Acting Volta Regional Director of Ghana Health Services, appealed to the students to work hard to replace the vacuum to be created by the 75 percent retiring midwives in the region. Ms Narki Doku, Principal of the school, said inadequate infrastructure for staff and students militated against academic work for students' population of 204, calling for assistance from public and private entities. She said the school chalked a 100 percent record at the post basic examinations level. Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area and Chairman of the School's Advisory Board, said the school had not developed land allotted to it, leaving it for encroachment. 05 Feb 10