Ms. Monica Nkrumah Berekum, Principal of Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC), says stakeholder discussions have been progressed in preparation for the start of the College’s Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree course in Mental Health Nursing.
She stated that the Mental Health Authority and the Ministry of Health had approved the initiation of the programme in the 2023/2024 academic year to create competent mental health nurses to assist grow the mental health workforce at health institutions nationally.
Ms. Nkrumah made the statement while addressing at the College’s 2022/2023 matriculation ceremony in Berekum, Bono Region.
A total of 427 applications were admitted for the College’s twin campuses in the Holy Family Catholic Hospital in Berekum, Berekum East Municipality, and St. Mary’s Catholic Hospital in Drobo, Jaman South Municipality.
She emphasised the necessity for the country to train more mental health experts to be deployed in the health sector in order to have a beneficial influence on the quality of the citizenry’s mental health.
Ms Nkrumah stated that the implications of poor mental health on the general population were so obvious that it might predispose individuals to a range of physical disorders.
According to her, this might result in a decrease in the quality of life and individual productivity, as well as less prospects for income, which could have an impact on total national output.
Ms. Nkrumah said that poor mental health might also explain for crimes such as violence, drug trafficking, child abuse, paedophilia, suicide, and other societal vices.
She voiced concern over the significant exodus of health care professionals abroad, saying it had become a big burden for the country’s health care fraternity.
According to Ms Nkrumah, an average of 400 to 500 nurses and midwives leave the nation each month to seek better pastures overseas, resulting in a major lack of professionals in the field.
She informed parents and guardians that the College was committed to creating a welcoming atmosphere for students, as both teaching and non-teaching personnel were dedicated to preparing them for productive employment in the future.
Ms Nkrumah therefore urged parents and guardians to pay their children’s and wards’ school fees on time and to settle their debts in order for the College to provide the basic and necessary equipment and logistics to facilitate effective teaching and learning.
