Retired Nurses Reject Call to Return: ‘Address Striking Nurses’ Concerns Instead
Retired Nurses Reject Call to Return: 'Address Striking Nurses’ Concerns Instead
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A retired nurse who served for four decades at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has firmly rejected the idea of retired health professionals stepping in to cover for striking nurses.
Responding to a suggestion by the Minister of Health, Madam Comfort Adu Poku, the retired nurse called on the government to reconsider its position, urging officials to withdraw the proposal and instead focus on resolving the root causes of the strike.
“Nurses are essential to every function within the hospital,” she stated. “We assist doctors in all areas, and without us, the system struggles. The government must provide proper incentives and conditions of service for active nurses, not look to retirees as a stopgap.”
Haruna Yakubu, Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in the Ashanti Region, echoed the sentiment. He emphasized that retired nurses have fulfilled their duties to the nation and deserve to rest.
“We cannot bear the workload anymore,” Yakubu said. “We’ve done our part. The government must meet the demands of the striking nurses instead of asking retirees to return.”
The response from retired nurses adds to mounting pressure on the Ministry of Health to engage in meaningful negotiations with striking staff rather than seeking temporary and unsustainable fixes.
