As reported in
Midwives, they started industrial action earlier this month (October) over claims of poor working conditions and low wages.
But they have now been urged by the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainee Association to return to their positions.
Courage Kwame-Kuma, secretary of the association, said some of the concerns raised during the strike have been addressed by the country’s ministry of health.
He added that steps to resolve the remaining issues are being taken and the decision to return to work is due to the number of lives at risk.
The decision was taken on ‘humanitarian grounds’, he said. ‘As we wait for the other concerns to be addressed it is important on our part that we consider the lives at stake and get back to work.’
Over 30,000 trainee midwives and nurses have taken part in the nationwide industrial action.
Petitions were also sent to the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.
The strike came after initial hints at industrial action were made when midwives and nurses urged the government to respond to their demands for increase in allowances.
The deputy minister for health, Rojo Mettle Nunoo, described the strike as 'unofficial and unwarranted'.
He said negotiations were ongoing as part of efforts to improve upon the working conditions of all health sectors, including the nurses and midwives trainees.
