Attend to Patients with a Smile- Mahama Tells Nurses
President John Dramani Mahama has urged nurses and other health workers to treat patients with compassion and a smile, describing a caring attitude as an important part of the healing process.
He acknowledged that health workers could sometimes be tired or stressed but urged them to put their personal challenges aside when attending to patients.
“Please, under whatever condition your husband is annoying you, please, if you go to work, put that annoyance aside and attend to the patient with a smile,” President Mahama said.
He said a nurse’s attitude towards a patient could provide reassurance and contribute significantly to the patient’s recovery.
“Your smile is a reassurance to the patient that they will get well. That is half the treatment,” he added.
President Mahama made the remarks at a Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) durbar at Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga East District as part of his two-day “ResettingGhana Tour” of the Upper East Region.
He said the programme was designed to make healthcare more accessible, particularly to people who faced challenges accessing health facilities because of distance and other barriers.
The President urged residents of the region to take advantage of home visits under the FPHC programme to undergo basic health checks, including blood pressure and diabetes screening.
He said the exercise would enable health workers to identify illnesses early and make referrals where necessary.
President Mahama stressed the importance of preventive healthcare, noting that early detection could help prevent simple illnesses from developing into severe conditions requiring expensive treatment.
He further called on health workers to pay particular attention to pregnant women and newborns during home visits by ensuring that expectant mothers attended antenatal care and that babies received the necessary vaccinations.
Commending nurses for their service, the President urged them to emulate the example of Florence Nightingale, whom he described as having cared for wounded soldiers under difficult conditions, while maintaining compassion for her patients.
President Mahama also outlined other measures being undertaken by the government to strengthen healthcare delivery, which included improvements to the National Health Insurance Scheme, support for the treatment of major illnesses through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, and plans to increase local pharmaceutical production.
The President was accompanied by Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, Dr Dominic Akurutinga Ayine, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, and Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State for Public Sector Reforms.
The rest were Mr Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education, his Deputy, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, Mr James Agalga, MP for Builsa North Constituency, and Dr Thomas Winsum Anabah, MP for Garu, among other government officials.
The durbar also attracted top management members of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) from the national to the district levels, led by Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director-General and Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari, the Upper East Regional Director of the Service.
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