The authorities of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, have backdated the appointment of the Diploma Nurses Group Eight (DN8) to the date they were engaged instead of the day they started rotational duties. The decision is in response to a directive received from the Ministry of Health as part of efforts to get the striking junior nurses back to the wards.The Ministry had earlier directed health institutions and agencies to start the appointment of the junior nurses and midwives from the date of their assumption of actual duty instead of beginning from the date they started rotational duties.The strike action by the 131 junior nurses and midwives at KATH was triggered by a decision the Health Ministry took to peg their appointment date on the day they start their rotational duties, which is contrary to the norm. They, therefore, resolved that until the decision was reversed and all arrears paid to them, they would not go back to work.According to a statement signed by Mr Kwame Frimpong, Public Relations Officer of KATH issued in Kumasi, the management of the hospital met the leadership of the junior nurses and midwives and communicated the government’s decision as well as the compliance of the hospital to them. The statement said management is expecting the striking nurses to resume duty on Thursday, October 7, while efforts are made to pay their salaries which have been in arrears for the past 20 months.Source: GNA