150 HEALTH ASSISTANTS BEGIN TRAINING
150 HEALTH ASSISTANTS BEGIN TRAINING January 17, 2011
BY P. ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
Beneficiaries of the Health Extension Workers [HEW] module under the National Youth Employment Programme [NYEP] have been called upon to first recognise their role as basic health care attendants and also, appreciate the current national health care needs of Ghana if they are to work effectively under the module.
The NYEP Coordinator for the Kassena-Nankana East district in the Upper East region, Mr. Abdul-Mumin Abdul-Karim made the call at Navrongo during the formal launch of a three-month training programme for 150 new entrants under the health extension workers module. He added that, for health extension workers to handle patience in any health facility, they ought to understand basic health principles and how to implement them.
Mr. Abdul-Mumin cautioned that training programme is not meant to transform the beneficiaries into substantive nurses within the short spate of time but rather, it is to prepare them to perform effectively along side mainstream health staff during the period of engagement.
According the NYEP district coordinator, the previous government hastened the implementation of the NYEP which resulted in a lot of problems such as lack of sustainable funding and non-existence of a proper exit plan for outgoing beneficiaries. He said the Mills’ led government has since assuming power, instituted radical restructuring of the youth employment programme to tackle major challenges. For instance, huge debts owed to beneficiaries have been cleared while new modules have been added taking on more youth.
The Deputy Upper East regional minister Mrs. Lucy Awuni who launched the training programme advised the youth to save whatever monies they earn from the programme and use it further their education whilst they also stand the chance of being absorbed into various institutions for professional training as nurse and other professionals.
Mrs. Awuni said the NYEP is a stop-gap measure by government to address the nagging youth unemployment situation in the country and should not be misconstrued by beneficiaries as permanent employment. She reiterated that the NYEP is a cycle that allows the beneficiaries to earn some money within two years, establish themselves and move on to create room for others to also benefit.
The deputy regional minister stated that government will continue to roll out policies that will create opportunities for the youth to educate themselves, get employment and have hope to face the future. She however noted that the HIV/AIDS pandemic, indiscipline, armed robbery and prostitution have assumed alarming rates in the country. She thus appealed to religious bodies and traditional authorities to assist government in tackling these problems.
The Kassena-Nankana East district health director, Madam Margaret Bawa whose office is facilitating the training of the health extension workers said the trainees will undergo eight weeks of theoretical training and 16 weeks field experience while the last week will be used for revision and examination.
Madam Margaret said the trainees will be taught topics including ethics and patient rights, the basic structure of the human body, bed making and basic obstetric care among others. She urged the health extension trainees to follow their lessons keenly and expressed the hope that upon completion, they will take charge of very basic health care functions so as to give nurses ample time to carry out major clinical duties.
BY P. ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
Beneficiaries of the Health Extension Workers [HEW] module under the National Youth Employment Programme [NYEP] have been called upon to first recognise their role as basic health care attendants and also, appreciate the current national health care needs of Ghana if they are to work effectively under the module.
The NYEP Coordinator for the Kassena-Nankana East district in the Upper East region, Mr. Abdul-Mumin Abdul-Karim made the call at Navrongo during the formal launch of a three-month training programme for 150 new entrants under the health extension workers module. He added that, for health extension workers to handle patience in any health facility, they ought to understand basic health principles and how to implement them.
Mr. Abdul-Mumin cautioned that training programme is not meant to transform the beneficiaries into substantive nurses within the short spate of time but rather, it is to prepare them to perform effectively along side mainstream health staff during the period of engagement.
According the NYEP district coordinator, the previous government hastened the implementation of the NYEP which resulted in a lot of problems such as lack of sustainable funding and non-existence of a proper exit plan for outgoing beneficiaries. He said the Mills’ led government has since assuming power, instituted radical restructuring of the youth employment programme to tackle major challenges. For instance, huge debts owed to beneficiaries have been cleared while new modules have been added taking on more youth.
The Deputy Upper East regional minister Mrs. Lucy Awuni who launched the training programme advised the youth to save whatever monies they earn from the programme and use it further their education whilst they also stand the chance of being absorbed into various institutions for professional training as nurse and other professionals.
Mrs. Awuni said the NYEP is a stop-gap measure by government to address the nagging youth unemployment situation in the country and should not be misconstrued by beneficiaries as permanent employment. She reiterated that the NYEP is a cycle that allows the beneficiaries to earn some money within two years, establish themselves and move on to create room for others to also benefit.
The deputy regional minister stated that government will continue to roll out policies that will create opportunities for the youth to educate themselves, get employment and have hope to face the future. She however noted that the HIV/AIDS pandemic, indiscipline, armed robbery and prostitution have assumed alarming rates in the country. She thus appealed to religious bodies and traditional authorities to assist government in tackling these problems.
The Kassena-Nankana East district health director, Madam Margaret Bawa whose office is facilitating the training of the health extension workers said the trainees will undergo eight weeks of theoretical training and 16 weeks field experience while the last week will be used for revision and examination.
Madam Margaret said the trainees will be taught topics including ethics and patient rights, the basic structure of the human body, bed making and basic obstetric care among others. She urged the health extension trainees to follow their lessons keenly and expressed the hope that upon completion, they will take charge of very basic health care functions so as to give nurses ample time to carry out major clinical duties.
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