We’re too tired; we can’t work – Retired nurse to Health Minister (VIDEO)

A retired nurse has strongly criticised Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh for urging retired health workers to volunteer their services, as the strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) continues to disrupt healthcare delivery.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the nurse, who served from 1982 until her retirement, described the Minister’s appeal as “misplaced” and “impractical.”

According to her, most retirees are no longer physically strong enough to handle the demanding conditions in health facilities and should not be seen as suitable replacements for active nurses currently on strike.

“The situation is very painful. Some of us are very tired, and even in retirement, we can barely fend for ourselves. So when we return to work and we get sick or injured, who will cater for us?” she said.

She urged the government to focus on resolving the issues that have caused the strike, instead of shifting the burden onto retired professionals.

“Some things are in bad taste, and we need to stop trying to put square pegs in round holes. We should give the nurses what is due them so they can return to work to save lives,” she added.

The Minister made the appeal during a press conference held at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, June 10. He acknowledged the severe impact of the ongoing strike, which began on June 4 and has since disrupted healthcare services across the country.

Nurses and midwives are demanding the full implementation of the 2024 Collective Agreement, which is still pending.