The Principal of the Pantang Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Elizabeth N. A. Mensah, has called on stakeholders, development partners, and well-meaning individuals and organisations to support the college’s vision of becoming a fully equipped institution of excellence.
Speaking at the 19th Matriculation ceremony for newly admitted Registered Midwifery, Registered General Nursing and Nurse Assistant Clinical students, Mrs. Mensah noted that as the school strives toward growth and innovation, its progress must align with the rapidly evolving trends shaping global healthcare.
According to her, the healthcare sector is undergoing significant transformation, with the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting the rising importance of digital health technologies, telemedicine, and data-driven research.
She explained that digital tools such as electronic health records and telehealth platforms are increasingly being adopted to improve clinical decision-making and enhance patient outcomes.
One of the most groundbreaking developments, she added, is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare delivery.
AI is supporting disease detection, improving prediction models, enabling personalized care plans, and streamlining documentation—allowing practitioners to devote more time to compassionate, quality patient care.
Mrs. Mensah further noted that the WHO now recommends beginning professional midwifery education at the bachelor’s degree level, a move that reflects the expanding scope and expectations of the nursing and midwifery professions in a digital era.
Sharing a recent example, she recounted a documentary showing an Indian medical expert assisting with a surgical procedure remotely from another continent—an illustration of how technology is reshaping medical practice worldwide.
Mrs. Mensah also encouraged both seasoned and emerging health professionals to embrace technological change.
She reminded older practitioners, who did not grow up with computers or AI tools, to remain open to learning.
She urged younger trainees to view their mobile phones not merely as communication devices but as electronic learning tools capable of expanding their knowledge.
She emphasized, however, that even as the profession embraces modern technologies, its ethical foundations must remain intact.
The responsible use of digital tools, she stressed, requires strict adherence to patient confidentiality.
Procedures performed on patients must remain private, and no clinician should record or share sensitive interactions.
“For example, it is inappropriate to invite a colleague to video you while attending to a patient’s intimate needs,” she cautioned.
Mrs. Mensah reaffirmed that the college’s journey toward excellence depends on both technological advancement and unwavering ethical practice.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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