to - Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana

N&MC Newsletter
Vol. 8
Issue No. 9
2014
See story on page 23
Helplines 0501333237 | 0501291528 | 0501291529
4
IN THIS ISSUE
5
6
7
Nurse- Managers
CINOP Builds
Armed in
Capacity
of N&MC
Readiness for
Staff
Ebola
N&MC Staff Join
HSWU of TUC
Registrar
Appointed
Member of MOH
Advisory Board
Two-Day
Orientation
Programme for
New Employees
Nurses and
Midwives Hail
Instant Issuance of
Temporary PIN/AIN
Let’s Save With
N&MC Staff
Credit Union
for a Secured
Future
Midwives
Involved in KATH
Missing Baby Saga
Sanctioned
Nursing and
Midwifery Council
Gets First Male
Registrar in Ghana
Let us Work
Hard to Make
N&MC Great
Registrar Tours
Examination
Centre
Let’s Save With
N&MC Staff
Credit Union for
a Secured
Future
8
12
12
20
9
14
21
Accredited
N&MC
Institutions to
Registrar is a
Run CPD
Member of GCNM
Programmes
Governing
Applauds N&MC
Council
26
Impersonation
at MHATS,
Pantang
26
Impersonation
at Ankaful
10
18
23
11
19
25
Final Year
Unqualified Nurse Student
Abandons
Assistant Barred
Examination and
Absconds from
From Holding
School for
Herself as Such
Impersonation
Editorial Board
Mrs. Mercy Avogo
Chairperson
Mrs. Philomina Woolley
Vice Chairperson
Mrs. Agnes Oppong- Baah
Member
Mr. Gabriel Gbemu
Member
Mr. Eric Mensah-Ayettey
Editor
Ms. Mercy Owusu
Secretary
It is ILLEGAL
to practise Without
a VALID PIN or AIN.
Renew your
expired PIN or
AIN now!
NMC Newsletter
3
Nurse,
Managers
Armed in
Readiness
for Ebola
Group photograph of Participants after the Ebola preparedness workshop.
4
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC) in collaboration
with the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery Services
(Ministry of Health), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) and the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA) organized a day’s national workshop on the
Ebola Viral Disease in August with the objective of complementing the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana
Health Service in terms of Nursing and Midwifery preparedness should there be any outbreak in the country.
The about one hundred (100) participants were Nursing and
Midwifery Managers from health facilities across the country.
In an address, the President of the Ghana Registered
Nurses Association, Mr. Kwaku Asante Krobea described
the outbreak the Ebola disease as the mother of all health
battles which has caught the attention of the health system
of all countries and a major concern for the World Health
Organization (WHO).
Mr. Asante Krobea underscored the importance of the workshop;
NMC Newsletter
Nurse,
Managers
Armed in
Readiness
for Ebola
The triad (President of GRNA,
Mr. Kwaku Asante-Krobea, Chief
Nursing and Midwifery Officer,
Mr. George Kumi Kyeremeh and
Registrar of N&MC, Mr. Felix
Nyante)
“nurses and midwives form the largest contingent of the health workforce, reaching at least 65% among health professionals across the
continuum of health care the world over”. The GRNA President
therefore charged his colleagues to rise up to the occasion and
make an impact in the fight against Ebola.
A representative of the World Health Organization (A Public Health
Surveillance Medical Officer), Dr. Vincent ViyonAhove who served
as a Resource Person for the workshop took the participants
through causes, how it spreads, who is most at risk, symptoms,
what treatment is available, prevention and how to handle victims
of the disease to avoid further spread.
According to him, out of the 2,240 persons infected within the subregion (Guinea, Sierra Leone,
Liberia, and Nigeria), 1, 229 of them
have died. Dr. Ahove praised commitment of the Government of
Ghana to help contain the disease
should it breakout in the country as
well as the initiative by the organizers of the workshop. He gave the assurance that the WHO has
mobilized different experts to support affected countries in all aspects
of the epidemic control.
Another Resource Person, Dr.
Akyianu of the GHS, assured the
participants that the Ministry of
Health and the Ghana Health Service have put elaborate measures in
place to contain the disease in the
event of an outbreak. He reiterated
that tests conducted on the various suspected cases have proved
negative and announced that a toll free number has been provided
for members of the public to report suspected cases for immediate
attention-0299009958.
Dr. Akyianu urged nurses and midwives not to be scared of the disease as that has the potential of creating panic within health facilities. He indicated that with the information gathered at the
workshop, the participants should be able manage any Ebola patient. He said when they encounter a suspected case, they should
isolate the patient in a holding room and call the focal person within
the facility take the sample for investigations.
The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Mr. Felix
Nyante urged participants to disseminate the knowledge acquired
when they return to their respective facilities/ regions.
NMC Newsletter
5
CINOP Builds
Capacity of
N&MC Staff
A group photograph of participants and facilitators at the CINOP Training Programme
“Sharpen the sword and work
with passion” was the central
theme of the opening remarks
given by the Registrar of the
6
Council, Mr. Felix Nyante when
he opened a Tailor Made Training
programme for nursing and mid-
wifery staff of the Council.
NMC Newsletter
The modular training programme
which is facilitated by CINOP
Global is under the auspices of
the Netherlands Embassy in
Accra. It is aimed at building the
capacity of the aforementioned
staff of the Council by equipping
them with Leadership and Strategic Management skills, knowl-
edge on keys to manage and
review and Management of information systems.
Mr. Nyante urged the participating
staff to utilize the knowledge and
skills that would be gained from
the programme in the execution
Medical, Ghana and Princefield
of their duties. He noted that by
College.
Council from good to great.
workshop they apply in their num-
so doing, they would be contribut-
ing their quota to moving the
“In fact, when they get to know
that the Council is behind the
In August, 2014 an introductory
bers”.
ules interacted with the partici-
the consultancy firms, Mr. Kwame
session was held during which
the facilitators of the three modpants. Mrs. Marina deBie finished
her module on Leadership and
Strategic Management in Novem-
ber, 2014, Mr. Frans Van Hoek
will tackle Management of infor-
mation systems in March and Ms.
Mawuli Alomenu will finally teach
keys to manage and review.
So far, the beneficiary staffs have
expressed their satisfaction with
the course content and the de-
This statement was made by the
the
facilitators during the break pe-
are time consuming, coupled with
our tight work schedule, it is not
easy to meet the deadline for sub-
year 2014. According to him,
through the opportunity offered by
eighty-nine (1389) nurses and
midwives
through
various
courses across the country during
Mr. Agyire-Tettey also stated that
guidance offered by the Council
courses offered by their institu-
(MSSI), The Health Institute,
STREC, FOCOS, Africa Partners
fully.
The Registrar of the Council, Mr.
tion at the performance of the
consultancy firms.
According to him, the collaboration has been beneficial to the
Council as well. He therefore
gave the assurance that the
Council would address all the
challenges outlined by the institu-
introducing them to authorities of
responsibility exercised by the
them to organise in-service train-
ical and Surgical Skills Institute
have much to share because they
He also mentioned the oversight
greatly in identifying relevant
the Council’s credibility as very
The consultancy firms are; Med-
STREC, Ms. Ama Kwabi did not
tions.
scribing it as invaluable because
their programmes.
The representative of
tions to its objectives helped
Continuing Professional Develop-
helpful in attracting patrons to
lar success stories and chal-
Felix Nyante expressed satisfac-
edge and skills of as many as one
Council over their operations, de-
Nurses and Midwives have cited
FOCOS took turns to share simi-
thousand, three hundred and
was able to update the knowl-
tracted by the Council to organise
ment (CPD) programmes for
Sena Awoome of Princefield Col-
have not commenced operations
courses.
the six consultancy firms con-
Partners Medical, Ghana, Ms.
the Council to collaborate, MSSI
mission of assignments”, one of
the participants said. Officials of
Mr. Cudjoe Amenyah of Africa
lenges.
regarding the need to align
with
credit points attached to them.
review their activities during the
Agyire-Tettey at a meeting held to
riod. However, “the assignments
interact
that their courses do not have any
lege and Mrs. Jemima Owusu of
the year under review.
to
Regional Officers, and the fact
representative of MSSI, one of
light at the use of an online platform
lack of support from the Council’s
Managements of many hospitals
and clinics have approached
With respect to publicity, Nyante
stated that in addition to officially
the various regional and district
hospitals, their courses will be ad-
vertised on the Council’s website.
ing programmes for their staff.
Touching on challenges faced by
MSSI, Mr. Agyire-Tettey listed
them as difficulty in preparation of
certificates for participants, inad-
equate publicity for their courses,
NMC Newsletter
7
N&MC Staff Join HSWU of TUC
Their responsibility is to
organize, protect, defend and educate all
members to secure better conditions of services and job security
through negotiations,
collective bargaining
and social dialogue to
enhance productivity.
The maiden elections,
which saw a 70% voter
turnoutmade up of both
senior and junior staff,
were held at the Head
office of the N&MC.
The newly elected Executive of N&MC Branch of Staff of the Council have joined the Health
The seven- member
Services Workers’ Union (HSWU), Hurray!!! Members of N&MC branch of the HSWU have subExecutive is made up of
sequently elected seven of their colleagues as executives to serve a term of four years in office.
Mr. Collins Twum-Baah
(Chairperson), Mr. Dela Anane (1st Vice ChairperMr. Twum-Baah therefore appealed to all non-nursing
son), Ms. Millicent Glover (Secretary), Mr. Solomon
and midwifery staff of the Council to be part of the
KojoKafui (Assistant Secretary), Mr. Richard Gyamunion to pursue a common interest.
era (1st Trustee), Ms. Rita Afotey (2nd Trustee).
Speaking on how an employee could become a
According to Mr. Collins Twum-Baah, the joy of every
member, the National Research and Monitoring offiemployee is to enjoy a favorable and a conducive
cer of the HSWU Mr. Franklin Owusu-Ansah who suworking relationship with management or employers
pervised the elections indicated that an employee
and it is for this reason that his team of executives
needed to fill an enrollment form which would be prohave been elected to ensure that employees of the
vided by the National Union. Upon submission, a
Council continue working productively whiles enjoymembership identification card would be issued to
ing a favorable working condition from management.
the employee.
He explained that the HSWU which is affiliated to the
He advised that irrespective of the fact that the union
Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a corporate body
serves the interest of employees, it would be very
registered under the laws of Ghana and with a vision
much appropriate if employees also worked with diliof organizing and recruiting all paramedics and other
gence and enthusiasm to increase productivity
health workers into a formidable organization with
which would enable Management improve the workmembers getting job satisfaction to deepen industrial
ing conditions.
harmony for a better healthcare delivery.
The slogan of the HSWU is “Service with a smile”
He added that the objective of the newly elected exand their motto is “we promote Health Services Willecutive, during the four year term of office, is to ensure
ingly and Unswervingly”.
that all non-Nursing and Midwifery professionals of the
Council would join since the union derives its strength
from numbers.
8
NMC Newsletter
Nurses and Midwives Hail Instant
Issuance of Temporary PIN/AIN
Nurses and Midwives practicing in
the country can now heave a sigh
of relief due to the instantissuance
of Temporary PIN (Professional
Identification Number) and AIN
(Auxiliary
Identification
Number)which can be accessed
in all the Council’s regional offices
across the nation.
The temporary PIN/AIN which
began in October, 2014 is valid for
a period of two months after
which an original PIN/AIN would
be issued. The PIN or AIN is renewable every two years.
Some clients who visited the
Greater Accra Regional office
welcomed the initiative and urged
the Council to come out with more
innovation in its operations. “we
are happy about the introduction
of the temporary PIN, at least we
can use it until we get the card”, a
visibly elated client hinted.
This service was introducedto alleviate the challenges faced by
Nurses and Midwives who apply
for PIN or AIN but had to wait for
about a month before receiving
the document. This situation
arose due to increasing numbers
of practicing professionals and
the meticulous processes of ascertaining authenticity of certificates and other documents
submitted by applicants.
However, with the decentralization of the Council’s services and
the introduction of the temporary
PIN and AIN, this challenge has
been resolved because the regional offices issue the temporary
PIN or AIN instantly while the
clients await the original one. This
means that nurses and midwives
practicing in the various regions
need not travel to the Head Office.
All they need to do is to walk into
the Council’s office within their region and presto they have something to show as a license.
According to the Greater Accra regional Officer of the N&MC, Mr.
Nii Teiko Tagoe, renewal of PIN or
Left: Sample of Temporary PIN
NMC Newsletter
AIN is a fundamental requirement
in nursing and midwifery regulation and urged practitioners to do
so religiously. “The practice of a
nurse or midwife is deemed valid
when he or she had satisfied all
requirement of registration and
possessed a valid PIN/AIN”.Mr.
Tagoe emphasized.
He reminded the practitioners that
it is illegal and against the ethics
of the profession to practice without a valid PIN or AIN adding that,
“Our offices are opened to offer
this service and would be glad if
all nurses and midwives recognize the importance of renewing
their PIN/AIN when expired”.
To renew a PIN/AIN, a nurse or
midwife needs to attend a five
days organized workshop or a
workshop that constitute thirty
credit hours in addition to registration numbers, passport pictures,
academic transcripts and approved renewal fees. Plans are
afoot to embark on public education on the importance of renewing PIN or AIN. The three benefits
of the PIN or AIN are; it confirms
ones professional status, no employer would employ any Nurses
or Nurse Assistant without a PIN
or AIN, and it could be used even
while on retirement.
Right: Sample of Temporary AIN
9
Registrar Appointed
Member of MOH Advisory Board
The Registrar of the Nursing and
Midwifery Council, Mr. Felix
Nyante has been appointed by the
Minister of Health Dr. Kwaku
Agyemang Mensah, as a member
of the eleven member advisory
board of the Ministry of Health.
The objective of the advisory
board is to advice the Minister of
Health on matters relating to
health care delivery in the country
and devising innovative ways of
improving the performance of the
health sector.
The board has Mr. Felix Nyante,
Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council, Dr.Victor Asare
10
Bampoe, Ministry of Health, Hon.
Alex Kyeremeh, Ministry of Education, Mr. Thomas Appiagyei,
Ministry of Finance.
Other members are Dr. Clement
Opoku-Okrah, Allied Health Professional Council, Dr. Emmanuel
Nunyaku Mensah GHAFTRAM,
Mr. Basil Ahiable, Private Sector,
Charlotte Ohene Manu, Private
Sector, Dr. Kwasi Kwarko Jnr, Private Sector, Dr. Kwabena OpokuAdusei, GMA and Mr. Sylvester
Kyei Gyamfi, Ministry of Gender,
Children and Social Protection.
The appointment of Mr. Felix
Nyante, Registrar of the Nursing
and Midwifery Council puts the
Council in a strategic position
since issues relating to improvement of healthcare delivery by
nurses and midwives in the country as well as challenges faced by
the Council would be relayed to
the Minister of Health for prompt
attention and redress.
At the inaugural meeting of the
Board, the Hon. Minister of
Health, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang
Mensah charged members of the
board to assist him find innovative
ways of addressing the numerous
challenges confronting the Health
Sector.
The Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Kwaku Agyemman Mensah (Head of table) chairing a meeting of the Advisory Board.
Second from right is the Registrar of the Council, Mr. Felix Nyante
NMC Newsletter
Two-Day Orientation
Programme for New Employees
The newly recruited staff pose with the Registrar and other Management Staff after the
tour of the new office complex under construction.
A total number of 18 newly employed staff
of the Nursing and Midwifery Council have
undergone a two-day orientation to educate them on the functions and operations
of the Council.
The new employees have been assigned
to the Central administration, Examination
Unit, Publications, Licensing, Public Relations, Pin Room, Certification, Client Service, IT and Monitoring and Evaluation Units
at the Council’s Head Office.
Welcoming the new employees, the Registrar of the Council, Mr. Felix Nyante said
the Council operates strictly in accordance
with high professional standards to ensure
quality health care provision by nurses and
midwives practicing in the country.
Mr. Nyante said the current operations of
the Council have best been described by
its clients and the general public as good.
He indicated that this was achieved
through the loyalty and enthusiasm exhibited by the existing staff of the Council. He
therefore urged the new employees to embrace the challenge of moving the Council
from good to great.
The Registrar noted that his paramount
wish is to hear the Council’s stakeholders
referring to it as a great organization and
called for their support to make this dream
come true.
contd on page 6
NMC Newsletter
11
Other senior officers of the Council took time
to take the new employees through the Council’s Work culture and ethics, Administrative
Rules and Regulations, operations of the Examination, Licensing and Supervision Directorates.
Representatives of the Ministry of Health,
Ghana Health Service, Ghana Registered
Midwives Association, Health Services Workers Union and NMC Staff Credit Union, also
took turns to brief the new employees about
their mandate and functions and their relationship with the Council.
At the end of the orientation, the new employees were taken on a tour to see the new office
complex under construction at Okponglo.
Let’s Save With N&MC Staff
Credit Union for a Secured Future
Building financial security for the
future and having access to financial aid has become a fundamental principle of life and everyone
ought to be encouraged to develop this.
It is for this reason that the Nurs-
12
ing and Midwifery Council of
Ghana staff Co-operative Credit
Union is calling on all staff of the
Council, nurses, midwives and
the general public to save with
the union for financial support in
times of need and difficulties.
The Interim Chairman of N&MC
Staff Co-operative Credit Union,
Mr Benjamin Tornyeli Akor, made
this passionate call during an interaction to present more insight
into the operations of the union
and how it would impact positively
A group photograph of staff of the Council after the inauguration.
NMC Newsletter
on members.
Mr. Akor explained that the principles underlying the establishment
and operation of the credit union
are likened to the biblical era
when Joseph was appointed as a
Prime Minister to oversee food
preservation in Egypt. Joseph
then bought the food for storage
during the bumper harvest season and sold them during the
famine season. This Biblical story
therefore places emphasis on the
importance of savings and accessing credit facilities in times of
need and difficulties.
The interim Chairman said the
credit union which began operations in October 2014, offers one
of the surest ways to better the income situations of contributors.
He added that the union is working assiduously to introduce competitive services to the benefit of
contributors.
‘’We have put in measures to ensure that contributors who would
access credit facilities would receive the facility within the shortest possible time. Also, our area
of focus and concern is to move
the credit union beyond merely
receiving deposits and disbursing
loans but to ensure that beneficiaries of loan facilities put their
monies into productive use to curtail the canker of loan delinquency that is common these
days to the barest minimum”, he
assured.
Membership
According to the operational policies of N&MC Staff Co-operative
Credit Union for a person to be a
member of the credit union, the
person must
a. Pick up a membership application form at the Head Office
of N&MC or the regional offices of the Council at a nonrefundable fee of Ten Ghana
cedis (GHC 10) together with
one passport-size picture and
the applicant’s personal details. (The application fee is
subject to review by the
Board of Directors).
b. A prospective member attains
full membership only when
he/she has fully paid and acquired a minimum share of
One Hundred Ghana cedis
(GHC 100.00) which is subject to review by the Board of
Directors.
Savings and Deposits
a. The N&MC Staff Credit Union
is currently operating five savings products namely; Personal savings, Education
savings, Christmas savings,
Funeral savings and Youth
savings
b. Savings shall be source deductions, direct deposits and
cash payment. Payments can
be made at the Council’s
head office or the regional offices. Contributors can also
pay their contributions directly
to the bank through the
union’s ECOBANK account
number 0013074486902301,
Accra Ridge Branch.
NMC Newsletter
Loan Facilities
a. Loans shall be granted to
members of the union who
have saved regularly for a period of not less than six (6)
months.
b. The Union offers four loan
packages namely; Personal
Loans, Soft Loans, Business
Loans and Emergency Loans
Why you must Join N&MC Staff
Co-Operative Credit Union
a. A member becomes a shareholder after satisfying all requirements, paying and
acquiring the minimum share
capital
b. A member can register, save
and access loans in all the regional offices of N&MC
c.
Competitive returns on members’ savings.
d. Lending rates below 5%
e. Easy access to loan facilities
and flexible repayment terms.
Join the N&MC Credit Union
now. Call 0244453063 for further enquiries and further
information.
13
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Gets first Male Registrar in Ghana
The President of the Republic of Ghana, His
Excellency John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with the advice of the Governing
14
Board of the Council, given in consultation with
the Public Services Commission, appointed Mr.
Felix Nyante as the Registrar of the Nursing
and Midwifery Council
with effect from August
12, 2014.
This makes Mr. Nyante
the first Male Nurse to
be appointed to the position of Registrar. This
follows the passage of
the Health Professions
Regulatory Bodies Act,
2013 (Act 857) which
reviewed the qualification for appointment to
the position from NurseMidwife to Nurse or
Midwife. Until the passage of Act 857, the
Council derived its
mandate from NRCD
117 and LI 683.
With this appointment,
Mr. Nyante becomes
the sixth (6th) Registrar
of the Council since its
establishment forty-two
(42) years ago.
His predecessors were
all females.
The Registrar going round the centre as the
candidates busily answer the questions.
NMC Newsletter
Education
A Fellow of the West
African College of Nursing, the newly appointed Registrar holds
a Masters Degree in
Public Administration
(GIMPA - Accra), Mas-
ter of Arts Degree in Educational Administration
(UCC – Cape Coast), Bachelor of Education
(Health Sciences) (UCC – Cape Coast),
Diploma in Nursing (UG - Legon) and is a State
Registered Nurse (SRN).
The new Registrar has also done Tailor-MadeTraining (TMT) programmes on Nursing and
Midwifery Regulation from the Universities of
Maastricht and Leiden in the Netherlands and
Mass Disaster Management from the Galilee Institute, Israel, thus he is a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP).
Research and Publications
Mr. Nyante has been involved in various research projects notably;
1. Migration trends of Ghanaian Nurses and
Midwives
2. Midwifery Tutors' Capacity and Willingness
to Teach Contraception, Post-Abortion
Care, and Legal Pregnancy Termination in
Ghana.
3. An Investigation into the Factors that Contribute to Nurse/Midwife Trainees’ Poor Performance on the Final Licensing Examinations
in Ghana
4 Impact and sustainability of an accredited
paediatric nursing training programme in
Ghana.
Experience
Mr. Nyante assumes the position with over
twenty-seven (27) years of continuous dedicated and productive service to the Ministry of
Health, the Ghana Health Service and the
Council.
As part of his schedules, Mr. Nyante has, atMr. Nyante was the Deputy Registrar in Charge
tended and in some instances, facilitated several
of Operations since 2006. He acted as Regisworkshops, seminars and conferences, both lotrar of the Council from
cally and internationally January, 2014.
Japan, Denmark, The
The new Registrar is
Netherlands, Switzerland,
Mr.
Nyante
becomes
the
currently a member of
Malaysia and Tanzania
the Ministerial Advisory
among others.
sixth (6th) Registrar of
Board of the Ministry of
the Council since its
Personal
Health.
establishment
Born 49 years ago at
Mr. Nyante’s potential
to excel in Nursing and
forty-two (42) years ago. Suhum in the Eastern region of Ghana, Mr.
Midwifery regulation
His
predecessors
were
Nyante is married to Mrs.
was identified right
all
females.
Gifty
Naa
Gyamah
from the time he gradNyante. They have been
uated from the Nursing
blessed with four beautiSchool. Subsequently,
the Nursing and Midful girls.
wifery Council engaged him as a Practical ExMr. Nyante is a devoted Christian who serves
aminer and later an Assessor. Since then, he
as an Elder at the Pentecost Church, English
has been actively involved in the training of StuAssembly, La –Nkwantanang District. He is also
dents, practicing Nurses and Midwives and has
the PTA Chairman of the Pentecost Schools in
keen interest in Regulation as well as Support
Accra.
Supervision of Nurse/Midwife Educators and
He speaks Akuapem Twi, Fante and is currently
Clinicians (Preceptors) to ensure quality nursing
pursuing a short course on proficiency in the Ga
care.
language.
NMC Newsletter
15
Let us Work Hard to
Make N&MC Great
...Registrar Urges Staff
The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
to be dedicated, devoted and passionate in the dis-
of Ghana (NMC) Mr. Felix Nyante is urging all staff
charge of their duties in order to make the Council
and efficiency.
The Registrar made the call when he and some
of the council to work hard to maximize productivity
Mr. Nyantehas also appealed to staff of the Council
very great.
members of the Management team met senior staff
Registrar of N&MC, Mr. Felix Nyante, interacting with senior staff of the Council at the new office complex
16
NMC Newsletter
of the Council during a tour of the new office com-
be rolled out to provide staff a congenial working en-
plex to inspect progress of work.
vironment at the new office complex.
during working hours and engage in activities that
propel the Council to greater heights. Prayers were
jectives.Management also took the opportunity to
fice complex.
He advised staff to eschew unproductive activities
would lead to the achievement of the Council’s ob-
assure staff that transformational measures would
Staff of the Council also pledged to work harder to
also said by staff for early completion of the new of-
17
Registrar of N&MC, Mr. Felix Nyante, interacting with senior staff of the Council at the new office complex
Midwives involved in KATH
missing baby saga sanctioned
The Governing Board of the Council has sanc-
without ascertaining the presence of the SBs in
to the disappearance of three still-born babies,
Ms. Patience Amponsah, Senior Staff Midwife
tioned the two midwives whose negligence led
at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Ms. Marian Asare, Principal Midwifery Officer
the sluice room.
and the Midwife who was the Head of the Night
Shift team on the A1 Labour Ward was sus-
and the Midwife In-Charge of the Labour Ward
pended from the practice of Midwifery for two
(4) weeks for taking over from the morning shift
SBs.
was suspended from Midwifery practice for four
18
(2) weeks for not physically handing over the
NMC Newsletter
REGISTRAR TOURS
EXAMINATION CENTRE
with the conduct of the November‐December,
2014 Licensing Examination for Health Assistants Clinical and Community Health
Nursing students.
Mr. Nyante also commended the work
of the invigilators for ensuring that students adhered to examination rules
and regulations prescribed by the
Council.
The Registrar made the commendation
when he visited the Accra Centre at
Odorgornor Senior High School, to
monitor the conduct of the examination. He said the Council had a statutory duty of ensuring that examinations
were conducted under strict vigilance.
“Adherence to examination rules and
regulations would eliminate examination malpractices and also enable the
Council churn out credible and qualiLeft: The Registrar of the Council, Mr. Felix Nyante engaged in
a tete‐a‐tete with the Chief Invigilator, Ms. Priscila Arthur Baiden
fied practitioners and issue licenses to
and the Greater Accra Regional Officer, Nii Teiko Tagoe.
candidates who duly passed the licensing examinations”
Mr. Nyante said.
A total number of 3916 candidates sat
for the Licensing Examination which
was conducted nationwide at various
examination centers simultaneously.
Mr. Nyante expressed the hope that all
the cand dates would pass the examination to provide the health sector with
more Nurse Assistants who would
deliver quality healthcare to all Ghanaians and people living in the country.
Apart from the written component, the
candidates were also taken through
practical examinations to test their
competency levels.
The Registrar going round the centre as the
The Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council of
Ghana, Mr. Felix Nyante has expressed satisfaction
candidates busily answer the questions.
NMC Newsletter
19
N&MC Registrar is a
Member of GCNM
Governing Council
The Ghana College of Nurses and
Midwives (GCNM) has been inau-
gurated at a colourful ceremony
in the Great Hall of the Univer-
sity of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
The College has a sixteen mem-
ber Governing Council including
the Registrar of the Nursing and
Midwifery Council (N&MC) of
Ghana, Mr. Felix Nyante.
Other Governing Council members who are associated with
the N&MC are; Mrs. Joyce Jet-
uah, Dr. Ernestina Donkor, Mr.
Kwaku Asante‐Krobeah, Mr.
George Kumi Kyeremeh (All
members of the 12th Governing
Board of N&MC) and Mrs. Ruth
Gyang, a former Registrar.
At the same ceremony, three
hundred and thirty (330) foun-
dation fellows made up of
young, old and very old nurses
and midwives were inducted
The Registrar of the Council, Mr. Felix Nyante and some
Governing Council members during the recession.
into the College as foundation
fellows.
They
included
the
current
Chairman of the 12th Govern-
ing Board of the Council, Hajia
Mariama Sumani, some Board
members;
Mesdames
Asare‐Allotey,
Peace
Alice
Ivy
Ananga, Doris Grace Kpong-
boe among others and two for-
mer Registrars of the Council,
namely; Mrs. Henrietta Owusu
and Rev. Veronica Darko.
Some current staff of the Council,
Mesdames
Philomena
Woolley, Agnes Oppong‐Baah,
20
A Group Photograph of Mr. Nyante, Hajia Mariama Sumani and
staff of the Council who were inducted as foundation fellow
NMC Newsletter
Georgina Afua Sam, Noami
Adomako Kwakye and Thomas
Nii Teiko
ACCREDITED
INSTITUTIONS
TO RUN CPD
PROGRAMMES
APPLAUDS
N&MC
Officials of the six consultancy firms contracted by the
Council to organise Continuing Professional Development
(CPD) programmes for Nurses and Midwives have cited
the Council’s credibility as very helpful in attracting patrons
to their programmes.
The consultancy firms are; Medical and Surgical Skills In-
stitute (MSSI), The Health Institute, STREC, FOCOS,
year under review.
Mr. Agyire-Tettey also stated that guidance offered by the
Council regarding the need to align courses offered by
their institutions to its objectives helped greatly in identifying relevant courses.
He also mentioned the oversight responsibility exercised
by the Council over their operations, describing it as in-
valuable because Managements of many hospitals and
clinics have approached them to organise in-service train-
ing programmes for their staff.
Touching on challenges faced by MSSI, Mr. Agyire-Tettey
listed them as difficulty in preparation of certificates for participants, inadequate publicity for their courses, lack of
support from the Council’s Regional Officers, and the fact that
their courses do not have any credit points attached to them.
Mr. Cudjoe Amenyah of Africa Partners Medical, Ghana, Ms.
Sena Awoome of Princefield College and Mrs. Jemima
Owusu of FOCOS took turns to share similar success stories
and challenges. The representative of STREC, Ms. Ama Kwabi
did not have much to share because they have not com-
Right: Mr. Kwame Agyire-Tettey explaining a point.
Left: the Registrar of the Council, Mr. Felix Nyante (In suit) and other participants listening to Mr. Agyire Tettey.
Africa Partners Medical, Ghana and Princefield College.
menced operations fully.
“In fact, when they get to know that the Council is behind
The Registrar of the Council, Mr. Felix Nyante expressed
one of the consultancy firms, Mr. Kwame Agyire-Tettey at
the Council as well. He therefore gave the assurance that
the workshop they apply in their numbers”.
This statement was made by the representative of MSSI,
satisfaction at the performance of the consultancy firms.
According to him, the collaboration has been beneficial to
a meeting held to review their activities during the year
the Council would address all the challenges outlined by
knowledge and skills of as many as one thousand, three
officially introducing them to authorities of the various re-
2014. According to him, through the opportunity offered by
the Council to collaborate, MSSI was able to update the
hundred and eighty-nine (1389) nurses and midwives
through various courses across the country during the
the institutions.
With respect to publicity, Nyante stated that in addition to
gional and district hospitals, their courses will be adver-
tised on the Council’s website.
NMC Newsletter
21
Unqualified Nurse Assistant Barred
From Holding Herself as Such
The effective collaboration be-
tween the Nursing and Midwifery
2013.
However, in her quest to secure
Council of Ghana (NMC) and the
employment in the health sector,
nurses and midwives are em-
had passed the licensing exami-
Ghana Health Service (GHS) in
ensuring
that
only
qualified
ployed into the health sector has
Ms. Alloh modified a copy of a letter meant for a candidate who
nation by inserting her name in
led to the disqualification of a 28
the recipient address column.
Ms. Vivian Alloh faked a letter
as a Nurse Assistant in a Govern-
year old woman from practicing
as a Nurse Assistant.
from the Council indicating that
she had passed the licensing ex-
amination held in 2013 and at-
tempted to outwit officials at the
Ms. Alloh before her disqualifica-
to
ascertain
whether her name was included
in the pass list submitted by the
Council.
It
was
during
Nyante applaudedthe collaborathat qualified nurses and mid-
wives are employed into the
health sector to offer safe, prompt
and efficient service that would
cating that she had passed the
ties of health facilities to always
examination, her name was not
and public protection.
Mr. Nyante appealed to authori-
verify the authenticity of certifi-
on the pass list.
cates and other documents of
cil, a cursory look through her file
stitutions.
The officer therefore directed Ms.
Alloh to the Council. At the Coun-
revealed that Ms. Alloh was a for-
mer student of Health Assistant
Training School, Sefwi-Wiawso.
She sat and failed the licensing
examination after three consecu-
tive sittings; 2011, 2012 and
22
wifery practice in the country.
The Registrar of N&MC, Mr. Felix
lead to a cost effective healthcare
though Ms. Alloh had a letter indi-
to undermine nursing and mid-
practicing as a Nurse Assistant in
this
process that it was detected that
lines to report on issues that seek
barred from holding herself up or
tive effort by the GHS to ensure
cross-checked
public to call the Council’s help
Region. She has since been
as a Nurse Assistant.
However, the officer in charge
He also encouraged the general
ment Hospital at Nkawie, Ashanti
the country.
senting this letter for employment
midwives and the general public”.
tion by the Council was working
Human Resource Directorate of
the Ghana Health Service by pre-
of nurse assistants, nurses and
nurses and midwives who apply
for job considerations in their in-
He said getting rid of unqualified
nursing and midwifery practition-
ers in the health sector was not
the sole responsibility of the
Council, “it is collaboration between the Council and employers
NMC Newsletter
Disqualified: Ms. Vivian Alloh.
Final Year Student Abandons
Examination and Absconds
from School for Impersonation
The joy of every nursing and midwifery student is to sit and pass
the licensing examination which is
conducted by the Nursing and
Midwifery Council of Ghana.
However, this joy could not be experienced by a final year student
of the Community Health Training
School, Techiman-Krobo, because she abandoned the licensing examination held in October
2014 mid-way for fear of being arrested for impersonation.
According to the school authorities the student who presented
herself as Abigail Kraku has absconded from school and has
since not been seen.
According to the facts of the case,
the impersonator was a final year
student of the aforementioned
school, where she was pursuing a
Community Health Nursing programme and was scheduled to
have completed in 2014.
In August 2014, during a routine
computerized indexing process it
was detected that the name Abigail Kraku with the same
WASSCE and birth certificate details, but a different picture had already been captured in the
database.
The data base revealed that the
original Ms. Abigail Kraku had
successfully completed a Health
Assistant Clinical programme at
Nyaniba Health Assistant Training
School in 2011 and duly enrolled
as a Nurse Assistant.
Efforts by the Council to trace the
whereabouts of the fake Abigail
Kraku have proved futile as she
has failed to honor all invitations.
When Mrs. Racheal Baiden, the
Principal of the school was contacted she said all attempts to
contact the student had failed.
"We have not seen her ever since
the examination ended", the Principal noted.
The Council has therefore deleted
her data from the database and
has barred her from pursuing any
nursing and midwifery programme in the country.
When contacted, the real Ms. Abigail Kraku emphatically denied
knowledge of how the imposter
got her certificates and personal
documents.
She recalled however, that she
had made photocopies of her academic documents and distributed them to some people who
she felt could assist her gain admission into certain schools.
“I suppose she might have gotten
my documents from one of such
people” she said
The Council is therefore cautioning prospective students of
NMTCs and the general public to
refrain from such criminal acts.
The council is also appealing to
heads of training institutions to
conduct due diligence by ascertaining the authenticity of documents submitted by prospective
students for admission. This
would go a long way to curtail the
menace of impersonation by
prospective students.
continued from page 22
using fake results/certificates and
other supporting documents since
the Council will smoke them out.
Mr. Nyante also emphasized that
possessing and using false certificates and documents is a criminal
offense. He appealed to the general public to disclose to the
Council any relevant information
concerning applicants and students in the various NMTCs in
order to maintain discipline and
integrity in the training of nurses
and midwives.
Meanwhile, the dismissed student, who is shown above, has
been banned from enrolling into
any NMTC in Ghana even if she
re-sits and secures better results.
Exposed: She presented herself as
Abigail Kraku
Impersonation at Ankaful
NMC Newsletter
23
Impersonation at MHATS, Pantang
The dream of a Health Assistant
(Clinical) student of the Health Assistants Training school in Pantang, has fizzled- out following the
detection of her use of fraudulent
means to gain admission.
The fraud perpetrated by Ms.
Ruth Yeboah Boateng was unearthed during the process of indexing through the use of a
software developed by the Council.
The authorities of the school have
consequently been directed to
dismiss her from the school and
withdraw all courtesies accorded
her as a student. Again, she has
been barred from pursuing any
course in nursing and midwifery in
Ghana.
According to the facts of the case
the dismissed student, Ruth
Yeboah Boateng, 26, is a twin
who used the WASSCE certificate
of her sister, Esther Yeboah
Boateng who had successfully
completed the Community Health
Nursing Training School in Fomena in 2011, to secure admission
into the school mentioned above
in 2012 to pursue a programme in
Health Assistant (Clinical) and
would have completed in 2014.
However, her luck ran out when in
the course of the computerized indexing process, it emerged that
the same name and academic details already exist in the data
base.
Further probe established that
Ruth Yeboah Boateng had used
her twin sister’s WASSCE certificate which had already been captured in the indexing and
registration data base in 2009 and
2011 respectively.
When the twins were confronted
with the evidence Ms. Ruth
Yeboah Boateng confessed that
she used her twin sister’s
WASSCE certificate.
The Registrar of the Council, Mr.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana has ordered the authorities of Nursing Training
College, Ankaful in the Central
Region to dismiss a final year
nursing student in the school who
gained admission in the 2012/13
academic year with fake WASSCE
certificate.
The student, whose original name
is Comfort Okyere Bekyi, aged 27
years, altered the WASSCE certificate of one Theresah Fokuoh by
superimposing her picture on it.
Disclosing the facts of the case,
the Principal Operations Officer of
the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, Mrs Agnes OppongBaah noted that Comfort Okyere
Bekyi who was known as Theresah Fokuoh at NTC Ankaful, completed her senior high school in
2009 at Tweneboa Kodua Senior
high school where she pursued a
business programme.
As result of her zeal to enter the
noble profession of nursing, Ms.
Bekye used the said Theresa
Fokuoh’s private WASSCE results of 2003 together with a falsi-
Impersonation at Ankaful
24
NMC Newsletter
Disqualified: Ms. Vivian Alloh.
Felix Nyante has therefore cautioned students, prospective students and the general public to
refrain from gaining admission
into Nursing and Midwifery
schools through fraudulent means
because they would face a similar
fate if found out.
fied birth certificate and other supporting documents to apply to the
school and she was subsequently
admitted.
However, during a routine exercise by some team of experts at
the Council and WAEC, the true
identity of Ms. Bekyi was revealed
leading to the detection of the
fake certificate. When she was
confronted, Ms. Bekyi confessed
that in her desperation to secure
admission into a Nursing Training
College, a friend gave her Theresah Fokuoh’s certificate which
she readily accepted because she
could not pass the WASSCE.
The Registrar of the Council, Mr.
Felix Nyante is therefore warning
all applicants who want to gain
admission into NMTCs, hence
into the noble professions of nursing and midwifery to desist from
continue on page 21
KNOW
WHAT YOU’RE
EATING
Apple Cider Vinegar also known
as ACV has been used as an elixir,
tonic and beverage around
5000BC. More recently, it has been
used as a wound disinfectant. Apple
cider vinegar is made from apple
yeast and a certain type of bacteria
and when these three ingredients
are mixed together, we get acetic
acid which has been proven to help
many essential functions within the
body.
1. Detoxification - Apple cider
vinegar is fantastic and helping your
body to detox. It actually binds to
toxins within the body so they can
be eliminated more easily. It helps
stimulate blood flow and also
cleanse the liver.
2. Digestion - This is what apple
cider vinegar is probably best
known for. Apple cider vinegar helps
to increase production of stomach
acid which can assist in the process
of digestion. It
helps to speed up
and make the
process more efficient. It’s also
great for upset
stomachs and you
can even mix a
couple of teaspoons into a
glass of water and
sip throughout the
day.
3. Boosts your
immune system.
Apple cider vinegar in addition to
all the vitamins
and minerals contains an antibacterial, anti-fungal
and antiviral, so it
can help protect
your body against
foreign invaders
and aid your immune system.
Source: www.applecidervinegarhub.org
25
O F F I C E S
HEAD OFFICE
Behind MUSIGHA Head Office, Near Independence Square, Close to MDPI
P. O. Box MB 44, Accra, Telephone: 0302-660417-8
Email: info@nmcgh.org, Website: www.nmcgh.org
REGIONAL OFFICES
Ashanti Regional Office,
Kumasi
Behind SSNIT
Near National Service
Secretariat, Adum
Telephone: 020-7056735
E-mail: goseisarpong@gmail.com
Brong Ahafo Regional Office,
Sunyani
Cocoa House, 5th Floor,
Room Nos. 512-513
Telephone: 024-4632985/ 020-8088398
E-mail: georginaafuaI@yahoo.com
Central Regional Office,
Cape Coast
Near Ola College of Education &
Hexagon Guest House
Telephone: 024-3374564
E-mail: mnyarkosampson@yahoo.com
Eastern Regional Office,
Koforidua
Ground Floor, Main SSNIT Building,
Next to Rabito Clinic
Telephone: 024-4787614
E-mail: dorisakuf@yahoo.com
Upper West Regional Office,
Wa
Regional Health Directorate, Wa
Telephone: 020-8849983
E-mail: loisapasera@yahoo.com
Greater Accra Regional office,
Accra
Ghana Registered Midwives
Association Premises,
Behind El-Wak Stadium
No. 11, 1st Circular Road
Cantonments, Accra
Tel: 054-1884518
E-mail: unisolutions11@gmail.com
Volta Regional Office,
Ho
Adjacent Ghana Water Company &
Woezor Hotel
Ghana Health Service Workshop
Premises
Telephone: 024-9440355
E-mail: maggofori@gmail.com
Northern Regional Office, Tamale
Regional Health Directorate
Ghana Health Service Premises
Telephone: 020-8328876
E-mail: rabikadir@gmail.com
Upper-East Regional Office,
Bolgatanga
Regional Hospital Premises
Telephone: 024-4780143
E-mail: lababeci@yahoo.com
Western Regional Office,
Sekondi
Opposite Gov't Secretarial School
P. O. Box 333, Sekondi
Telephone: 024-4766849
E-mail: naokwak@gmail.com