The President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, has called for greater investment in nurses and midwives, stressing that the future of Ghana’s healthcare system depends largely on the safety, welfare, and empowerment of health professionals.
Speaking at the launch and celebration of International Nurses Day under the theme, “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo said strengthening the nursing profession is essential to building a resilient health system capable of responding to growing healthcare demands, public health emergencies, and changing disease patterns while ensuring universal health coverage.
According to her, evidence from across the world continues to show that investment in healthcare workers yields enormous benefits for both national economies and public health outcomes.
“The evidence before us demands action,” she stated. “The over 30 million nurses across the world, including more than 130,000 nurses in Ghana, are ready to deliver quality healthcare if given the needed support and empowerment.”
Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo emphasized that nurses remain the backbone of every healthcare system and therefore deserve improved working conditions, adequate protection, and sustained investment to enable them to perform effectively.
“It is time to harness the impact of the world’s largest healthcare workforce and empower nurses to save lives and save our health systems,” she stressed.
She further noted that many preventable deaths, especially among mothers and newborns, could be avoided if governments and stakeholders prioritize healthcare financing and workforce development.
“Every needless death can be avoided. Every life can be saved, and every mother and her baby can be assured of life if we empower our nurses and midwives by fixing our health system and investing in our health workers,” she said.
Highlighting the economic value of investing in healthcare personnel, Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo revealed that every dollar invested in a health worker could generate returns of up to nine dollars.
“Now we know that one dollar invested in a health worker returns up to about nine dollars. The time is now, and the call for greater investment is legitimate because it borders on our health sovereignty,” she added.
Addressing nurses and midwives gathered for the event, the GRNMA President encouraged members of the profession to continue advocating for better conditions of service and stronger healthcare systems while upholding compassion and dedication in their work.
“With our advocacy tools in both hands and our hearts full of love and compassion, let us celebrate today like no other day. Let us continue to demand empowerment because empowered nurses truly save lives,” she urged.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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