- Fewer nurses are available in Ahafo Region
- Nurses are leaving for better jobs, and the area has bad roads and housing
- Dr. Dodor wants to reduce the HIV rate further and solve the nurse shortage
Dr. Emmanuel Atsu Dodor, the Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for the Ahafo Region, has expressed concerns about the worsening nurse-to-patient ratio in the area, calling for immediate action to address the issue.
At the 2024 Annual Review Meeting of the Regional Health Directorate in Hwidiem, Dr. Dodor shared that the nurse-to-patient ratio has worsened from 1:183 in 2023 to 1:201 in 2024, creating a significant challenge for healthcare delivery.
He attributed this decline to two main reasons: the growing trend of nurses leaving the country for better opportunities and the underdeveloped conditions of the Ahafo Region.
Dr. Dodor mentioned that poor roads, insufficient housing for staff, and limited amenities have led many nurses to request transfers to more developed regions.
However, Dr. Dodor praised the health workers for their success in reducing the number of infants born with HIV from infected mothers. The region saw a significant decrease from 5.7% in 2023 to 1.7% in 2024, a progress he encouraged the team to continue working toward, aiming for zero mother-to-child HIV transmission in the years ahead.
