The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association has strongly condemned the physical assault of a senior staff midwife by relatives of a patient at the Community 22 Polyclinic, describing the incident as criminal, unacceptable and a threat to the safety of healthcare workers across the country.
‎‎In a statement, the Association expressed grave concern over reports that the midwife was attacked while performing her professional duties at the health facility.
‎According to the Association, no nurse, midwife or healthcare worker should be subjected to intimidation, threats, harassment or physical violence in the course of delivering essential healthcare services.
‎‎The GRNMA noted that healthcare facilities must remain places of healing, compassion and safety, rather than environments where health professionals fear for their personal security while carrying out their duties.
‎‎The Association called on the management of the Community 22 Polyclinic to take immediate steps to strengthen security arrangements within the facility to prevent similar incidents in the future.
‎‎Among the measures proposed were increased security presence at critical service points, stricter visitor management and access control systems, rapid response mechanisms for incidents involving violence against staff, improved surveillance systems and regular security risk assessments.
‎‎The Association also urged the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, the Christian Health Association of Ghana, teaching hospitals and other health sector agencies to prioritise the safety and security of nurses and midwives.
‎It called for the development and enforcement of a national policy on the prevention of workplace violence in healthcare settings, increased investment in security infrastructure, the establishment of support systems for victims of workplace violence and the imposition of stringent sanctions against perpetrators.
‎‎The GRNMA further renewed its call for the Government of Ghana to ratify and implement ILO Convention No. 190, arguing that the international labour standard provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and addressing violence and harassment in workplaces, including healthcare facilities.
‎According to the Association, ratification of the convention would demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to protecting workers from violence, abuse, intimidation and harassment.
‎‎The Association also appealed to the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations into the incident and ensure that all individuals responsible for the assault are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
‎It said swift action would not only secure justice for the victim but also serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate similar acts against healthcare workers.
‎‎Addressing the wider public, the GRNMA urged patients and their relatives to refrain from violence, threats and aggression towards nurses and midwives, stressing that healthcare professionals often work under challenging conditions and make significant personal sacrifices to save lives.
‎‎The Association encouraged members of the public to use established complaint and grievance mechanisms whenever concerns arise instead of resorting to violence.
‎‎The statement also sought to reassure nurses and midwives across the country that the Association remains committed to pursuing justice for the assaulted midwife and advocating stronger workplace protections.
‎‎”An attack on one nurse or midwife is an attack on the entire nursing and midwifery profession,” the statement said, adding that the Association would continue to defend the rights, safety and dignity of nurses and midwives nationwide.
‎The statement was jointly signed by the President of the GRNMA, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, and the General Secretary, Dr David Tenkorang-Twum.
