A Deputy Chief Health Tutor at the Nursing and Midwifery Training College at Korle-Bu, Perpetual Ofori- Ampofo, has identified nursing and midwifery as the key to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the Ghanaian community, and has called on the government to invest in them.
According to her, nurses and midwives are usually the first point of call and sometimes the only health professionals patients see when facing health challenges.
“Nurses and midwives can advance the agenda of UHC if Ghana as a country maximizes the capacities and potential of nurses and midwives through professional collaborative partnerships, education and continuing professional development”, she stated.
Mrs. Perpetual Ofori- Ampofo was speaking at a symposium held on 10th July 2019 themed, “Nursing and Midwifery, the Key in the Delivery of Universal Health Coverage”.
The concept of UHC, she explained, means that all can use promotive, preventive and rehabilitative health services as and when the need arises.
The concept also ensures that the use of these services does not come at a high cost to the users.
Additionally, UHC embodies three objectives namely; equity in access to health services, quality of service and protection against financial risk.
Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo added that there is the need to educate and groom a set of competent nurses and midwives in health system to cater for the needs of Ghanaians across the length and breadth of the nation.
“Investing in nurses and midwives is good value for money,” she stressed.
She stressed that nurses play a critical role in health promotion, disease prevention and delivering primary and community care.
“They provide care in emergency settings and will be key to the achievement of universal health coverage”, she noted.
She further called for action on the part of policy makers, Civil Society and individuals to play their respective roles in achieving the UHC and Sustainable Development Goal 3.
The vision of UHC is to grant easy access to quality health service by all people without suffering financial hardship by 2030.
By 3news.com | Ghana