Dr Gladys Ashitey, the Deputy Minister of Health, has said the government would do its best to support private nursing institutions to contribute in solving the acute shortage of health professionals.

She said a policy had already been set up to motivate the private sector in the area of tax incentives, provision of equipment and assistance in infrastructure to enable it to increase its intake.

The Deputy Minister, who was speaking at the third matriculation of the Narh-Bita School of Nursing in Tema on Tuesday, called for the private sector to forge closer collaboration with the Ministry of Health for enhanced capacity and service delivery.

Fifty-eight students, made up of 48 women and 10 men, were admitted for the three-year Diploma in Nursing while 64 students were also enrolled under the Ministry of Health programme for Health Assistants.

She said to retain health professionals in the country, the ministry had improved the conditions of service for all health professionals.

The government, over the past four years, had also been increasing the intake of health professionals into the training institutions to enhance the manpower requirements for the Health sector.

The Ministry had also introduced a Health Assistant programme to train middle level personnel to enhance health care delivery.

She advised the students on the need to be conversant with the rules and regulations of the school and to learn hard to justify the investments made in them.

The Principal of the School, Mrs Joanna L. Laryea, said in line with the school's desire to develop students' communal and voluntary spirit the staff as well as students and doctors of the Narh-Bita Hospital undertook a medical outreach programme this year at Mafi Aklamador in the Volta Region.

The Executive Director of the School, Dr Edward Narh, expressed his appreciation to individuals and institutions who have supported the school over the years.

Source: GNA