Urgently resolve the nurses and midwives strike to save lives – CSOs to gov’t

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in health has called on the government to urgently resolve the nurses and midwives nationwide strike to save lives.

The organisations are Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA), the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana), Stroke Association Support Network, among others.

The CSOs in a joint statement signed by Mr Labram Musah, the National Coordinator of GhNCDA, and the Executive Director of VAST-Ghana said as the strike entered its second week, attention must be drawn to the growing humanitarian and public health crisis the action was causing.

It said the strike was affecting individuals particularly people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other chronic health conditions.

The statement said, “From Accra to Tamale, Cape Coast to Bolgatanga, and across smaller towns and rural districts, public healthcare services have been severely disrupted.

“Vital services such as dialysis, cancer treatment, hypertension management, diabetes care, asthma management, cardiovascular disease interventions, stroke rehabilitation, and mental health services are now either inaccessible or drastically reduced.”

It noted that these disruptions have left thousands of patients, many of whom require continuous and time-sensitive care, making them vulnerable and at risk of preventable complications, disability, or even death.

The statement said in Ho for instance, dialysis patients were being turned away due to staff shortages.

“Elsewhere, patients with epilepsy or severe asthma have no access to critical medication reviews, counselling, or emergency services.

“The burden of care is increasingly shifting to private facilities, leading to skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs for patients, most of whom cannot afford these sudden expenses. This does not only threaten health outcomes but further entrenches inequality in access to healthcare,” it noted.

The CSOs said the toll of the strike was not limited to physical health, but had created uncertainty, fear, and anxiety among patients and their families, coupled with the emotional stress of being unable to access care, and the financial strain of seeking services in private facilities, which were escalating mental health challenges.

“Furthermore, the strike threatens Ghana’s long-term health commitments, and the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, as well as progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The SDG ‘3’ (Good Health and Well-being) is under serious threat. This crisis starkly exposes the fragility of our health system and the urgency of systemic reforms to avoid future occurrences,” they noted.

They also called on all political parties to desist from politicizing the crisis and instead confront it as a national emergency.

“Health is a fundamental human right and a national priority and therefore must never be reduced to partisan debate. The lives of Ghanaians cut across political affiliations, and healthcare solutions must be shaped by our shared humanity,” the CSOs stated.

They urged all stakeholders to act with urgency and compassion, saying, “We welcome the recent directive by His Excellency the President of the Republic, urging the Ministry of Finance to develop a roadmap for resolution in consultation with the GRNMA.”

They added that words must now be translated into swift action to protect human life.

They proposed that stakeholders must put patients first by recognising that at the core of their negotiations are lives and that budgetary discussions must not come at the cost of human suffering.

Others are that they should explore mediation and good faith dialogue, stating, “We encourage all parties to enter the negotiations aimed at restoring services while preserving dignity and rights.”

They also proposed that government, donors, and health financing partners should consider emergency subsidy schemes or health fund relief mechanisms to support NCD patients who are now compelled to seek costly care in private hospitals.

Psychological support services must be made available, especially for vulnerable groups facing treatment and care disruptions while the strike continues, immediate relief measures must be put in place.

“These should include temporary staffing through retired nurses, emergency contracts, private health facilities and or NGO support to restore critical services like dialysis, cancer care, and hypertension management,” they stated.

They called on civil society, the media, and faith-based organizations to rise, saying, “Let us collectively elevate our voices that put patients at the centre” by urging both parties (government and GRNMA) through increased advocacy, support, and public pressure to end this deadlock.”

“This crisis must not continue. Every hour of delay risks another life, deepens public distrust in the system, and reverses years of progress in health delivery.”

The statement said, “As an alliance committed to equity, dignity, meaningful engagement, and justice in health, we call for a swift, humane resolution that upholds both the rights of health workers and the dignity of patients.

“Let this be a defining moment in our collective conscience – a moment where Ghana chooses people over politics, lives over litigation, and humanity over hierarchy.”

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