Attack on healthcare worker: GRNMA calls for national policy to protect nurses and midwives

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has strongly condemned the physical assault of a senior staff midwife by relatives of a patient at the Tema Community 22 Polyclinic. The association is demanding immediate steps to protect nurses and midwives nationwide from such violence.

In a statement, GRNMA described the attack as "uncultured, unacceptable, and criminal," emphasizing that healthcare workers should not face intimidation, threats, harassment, or physical assault while providing essential services. The association stressed that healthcare facilities must remain safe environments, not places where staff fear for their lives.

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No nurse, midwife, or healthcare worker should be subjected to intimidation, threats, harassment, or physical assault in the course of rendering essential services to the public.

GRNMA has issued specific demands to the management of the facility, including strengthening security measures, enhancing presence at critical service points, implementing strict visitor management, establishing rapid response protocols for violent incidents, installing surveillance systems, and conducting regular security risk assessments. They also called upon the Ministry of Health and other health sector agencies to prioritize the safety and security of nurses and midwives.

The association is pushing for the development and enforcement of a national policy to prevent workplace violence in healthcare settings. This includes investing in security infrastructure, establishing support systems for victims, and imposing strong sanctions against perpetrators. Furthermore, GRNMA appealed to the Government of Ghana to ratify and implement the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 190, which provides a framework for addressing violence and harassment in the workplace, demonstrating Ghana's commitment to protecting its workers.

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healthcare facilities must remain places of healing, compassion and safety, not environments where nurses and midwives fear for their lives while performing their duties.