The School of Nursing and Midwifery (SoNM), University of Ghana (UG) launched sandwich MPHIL and MSC nursing programmes on Friday, May 31, in Accra.
The sandwich programme offers nurses and midwives the opportunity to work and school at the same time, without having much effect on productivity.
Addressing the audience, the acting Dean of SoNM, Prof. Lydia Aziator indicated how important and timely the programe is.
“The programme is as important as it is timely, particularly because nurses and midwives currently have profound challenges of securing study leave due to the disproportionate nurse-patient ratio. Ultimately, the sandwich programme in Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Ghana will strategically position nurses and midwives to contribute substantially to the attainment of SDG3 in Ghana through advanced clinical practice and research”, said Aziator.
She added that admissions will be done biennially to enhance the quality of the programme. The next admission will be 2021. The programme is open to all nurses and midwives with a good first degree in nursing/midwifery (at least 2nd class Lower Division) with 2 years’ experience. All applicants attend a selection interview. Applications are done online from the University of Ghana website.
The future plans of the School include introduction of the PhD Nursing programme hopefully in the next academic year. The school will also introduce MSc and MPhil Midwifery, Mental Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Nursing Management and Leadership, and other tailor-made programmes to meet the dynamic needs of the health system.
The University of Ghana School of Nursing and Midwifery is the most resourced in the country with 13 faculty members with PhDs currently at post. The school, with such rich human resources, is therefore committed to be the trailblazers for quality Nursing and Midwifery education in Ghana and the sub-region.
The school has also started short courses since January and the next on will be held between 5th to 9th August 2019 focusing on Palliative Care, Contemporary Midwifery Practice and Leadership. The course will be practical in nature and attracts 15 Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points.
The Dean, warmly invited all to be part of the programme and appreciated the effort of the Director General of the GHS, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare and the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Mr Felix Nyante, for their immense support for the short courses.
The Director General for the Ghana Health Service, expressed his excitement for the sandwich programme and appealed to the students to accept placement to wherever their expertise is needed. He added that the GHS no more post nurses and midwives.
With the introduction of the on-line recruitment process, the applicants select the preferred region. He revealed that the on-line system will be used for study leave application next year.
The Director General stressed on the need for the introduction and implementation of such on-line system for recruitment and study leave, to remove the human factor that has been existing in the Human Resource Management for decades.
The NMC Registrar, Mr Felix Nyante, congratulated the school for such achievement.
According to him, the launch is another key milestone in the development of nursing profession for the country.
“The launch of this programme will have a far-reaching impact on strengthening Ghana’s health-care system. It is indeed a privilege for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, along with other partners, to work with the School of Nursing and Midwifery of the University of Ghana towards this historic landmark”
In his speech, the registrar stated how capacity building of nurses and midwives will aid in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 under the global SDGs.
“Mr Chairman, it is interesting to note that at as part of the attainment of the global Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), all UN Member States have agreed to try to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, and one of the anticipated strategies to achieving the set goals is to equip our nursing profession with the skills, competencies and aptitudes needed to manage high performing health institutions that will transform the health status of the citizen”, said the registrar.
Some students also expressed their interest and happiness for the introduction of such sandwich courses that take into consideration their busy duty schedule at the health facilities.
However, some opined similar sandwich courses should be instituted in the other regions to benefit their colleague nurses and midwives.
Present at the launch included the Provost, CHS, UG, the Director for Nursing and Midwifery Services, Eva Mensah, Dean of Graduate Studies, Ag. Dean, SoNM, UG, Faculty and Members of Staff, SoNM.
By Douglas Adu-Fokuo