The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has declared that the wearing of visible name tags by all health professionals on duty is non-negotiable, describing proper identification as a critical first step in strengthening patient safety and accountability across the health sector.
He directed strict compliance with Ghana Health Service protocols and called for the immediate reinforcement of baby-and-parent tagging systems, as well as deeper collaboration with security agencies, following the February 17 baby theft incident at the Mamprobi Polyclinic.
Addressing the incident, the Minister stressed that it was both unacceptable and preventable, assuring the public that concrete measures are being implemented to avoid any recurrence. As part of his working tour, Hon. Akandoh visited the Mamprobi Polyclinic, the College of Health Sciences, the Nursing and Midwifery College, and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to assess infrastructure, service delivery, and workforce preparedness. At Korle Bu, he met with the mother of the recovered baby to express solidarity and reaffirm the Ministry’s commitment to justice and improved safety systems.
The Minister also welcomed calls by area MP Alfred Oko Vanderpuije for the expansion of labour, postnatal, and recovery wards, noting that infrastructure enhancement and strengthened security protocols remain central to ongoing reforms. Beyond infrastructure improvements, Hon. Akandoh underscored the importance of human resource development, outlining plans to promptly deploy newly trained health professionals to facilities facing critical staffing gaps and to convert selected nursing institutions into post-basic speciality schools to address shortages in specialised care.
His engagements reflect a firm and proactive commitment to building a safer, more efficient, and resilient healthcare system for all Ghanaians.
Leave a Reply