The world Health Organization ( WHO) has dedicated the year 2020 as the year to recognize the valuable contributions made by Nurses and Midwives world wide, celebrate them for their meticulous and therapeutic care render to humanity. In this regard, FOHA & JAK CONSULT is celebrating health professionals across the country for dedication especially in this period of the COVID-19 pandemic where more sacrifice is needed in the duty of care. Our frontline heroe today is a Senior Nursing Officer ( SNO) at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, she is the Nurse in charge of the Emergency Department and has emerged as the best Nurse for the Bono & Ahafo Region of Ghana, she would be contesting for the National Best Nurse for Ghana in the coming week, we wish you all the best as you emerge as the pride of Nursing for the Bono & Ahafo region and ambassador for ethical nursing in Ghana.

      Miss Linda Lartey attended  school at Ghana Senior High School,  Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana from 1999-2001

Proceeded to Nurses training college at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital ( KATH) in Kumasi from 2002-2005 

 She worked at the  Effiduase district hospital, Ashanti region of Ghana  where  she held the position of the general ward in charge after working under a senior colleague for 3 years. she was   transferred to the Sunyani municipal hospital in 2010 to join her husband. By dint of hard work and the quest for knowledge and professional development ,  she was   granted a study leave to further her  education at KNUST where she obtained a Bsc in Emergency Nursing in 2015. After school she  was made  the Nurse manager manager   of the Emergency  Department (6-bed capacity ward) and with the assistance from the hospital's management and some other colleagues ( Master  Samuel Boahen,  Miss Irene Bonsing) she was   able to secure some funds to renovate the hospitals old surgical ward to move the emergency unit in order to  meet the increasing demand for clients and to give patients quality care  and increase emergency preparedness.

  Are u fulfilled as a Nurse? Yes, I am, I love my job, I love what I do ,growing up,  I had always wanted to be  in the health sector,to save lives and that's exactly what God gave me. I serve with the heart of gratitude to God and paying my due to humanity.

 What do you see as the greatest challenge in the Nursing profession now? Decline in the quality of care.This is due to mass springing up of training colleges producing half-baked nurses.Some of them being there for various reasons and not the love for the work and it reflects in their performance and output when they are  finally posted .

What is your advice  to the upcoming nurses: ✓Believe in yourself and persevere. 

✓Treat all patients with respect ,love and dignity as you would love someone do for you or a loved one.

✓Respect for all- authority, both junior and senior colleagues

What is your recommendation ?

  ✓ The  Nursing & Midwifery Council ( NMC) and      Ministry of Health (MOH) should come together to regulate these training colleges.

✓The MOH should also consider employing only tutors who have some number of years of experience at the ward or bedside to teach in those institutions .

Appreciation: I would like to thank the Almighty God, my  dearest husband-Mr Ebenezer kyere-Buabeng who always motivates  and  encourages me to push further.

my mother in-law who has  being  very supportive with regards to caring for my kids during my training at KNUST

the current Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Mrs Mary Boakye(former Deputy Director of Nursing Services of Sunyani Municipal Hospital).

The current Deputy Director of Nursing Services( DDNS)of the Sunyani Municipal hospital  and her deputy-Mrs Emily Oduro and Madam  Mercy Fordjour

She is  married with 3 wonderful kids.

    Join FOHA & JAK CONSULT to celebrate professionals like Miss Linda Lartey for her wonderful contributions she is making to the health sector of Ghana at the Sunyani Municipal hospital, as we celebrate these heroes, we inspire all health professionals especially Nurses and Midwives who forms over 60% of the health workforce in Ghana. In this year of the Nurse and midwife, you are going to read and share the stories of many unsung heroes of health across the country. Share and like, comment, let her know how her Nursing care has impacted your life either as a client or as a colleague at the work place. 

Let us celebrate people whiles they are alive, good Nurses still exist.

For a health Heroe to be featured in our editorials, what'sapp on : +233 249727900

Rev.Jefferson Agbotro Kwasi ( JAK)

MSC OD

www.fohaghana.org

www.founder.fohaghana.org

www.jakconsultant.com