The Northern Zonal Executives (NZE) of the 2016 batch of the Nurse Assistant Clinical (NAC) and Nurse Assistant Preventive (NAP) has called on the President Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu to ensure that they are posted to various health facilities within the country.
The 2016 batch of NAC and NAP said they have been home and in agony for the past two years without postings.
The batch which has over 6,000 unemployed health assistants across the country noted that they were the first batch of Nurses to have completed training without trainee allowance and have spent huge sums of monies as school fees during their training and have rendered 40% health care service delivery during their training without remuneration.
The executives of the north, therefore seek that the government compensate them with immediate posting since their continues stay at home is more harmful and can lead to more harm if they stay longer at home without practicing.
Speaking at a press conference, the executives noted that they have spent 15 months being at home and they are the only batch to have stayed at home for more than a year without employment.
“Meanwhile, we have been registered by Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and have our Auxiliary Identification Numbers(AIN) which is subjected to yearly renewals , requiring certain working experience and money, but up till date we are left unemployed regardless of the promise by H.E president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in September, 2017 that we should be added to 2018 budget at a conference with GNMTA and our national executives and the promise of Hon. Minister of Health on the 9th Octoer, 2017 at our induction grounds that, “the only compensation we can give to you is to employ you immediately after your induction” since we did not enjoy any form of allowance during our training.”
The executives said their checks at the Ministry of Health, after they have forwarded their names for clearance and were assured of posting immediately clearance is done yielded no results because the ministry said they are not bonded, as such “will be treated as private nurses and we need to apply for job.
Meanwhile, it was boldly written on our admission letters that ‘Your acceptance of this offer to train as Health Assistant Clinical automatically “BONDS” you to serve the government for four(4) years after completion of training or in default pay an amount of $5,750.”
“This unexpected mishap has ignited anxiety, frustration and suffering among us, such that we have lost hope in the gentle approach of the association towards our plight and has called for agitation and violence.” They added.
NAC and NAP are therefore appealing to the President and sector Minister to respond to their grievances and take necessary steps to post them without any further delay by 16th February 2018 to avoid agitation and violence.
