Nurses At Accra Psychiatric Hospital Begins Strike Today

Nurses at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital are embarking on a
strike action starting from Monday, October 31, 2016.

 “Following several fruitless attempts by the leadership of
the nurses to get a lasting solution to the problems that has persisted for
years, exposing patients and staff to high risk of infection, and which have
become a major source of aggression towards staff and other patients, we have
been compelled to put our safety above all topics,” part of a press statement
signed by the group read.

Kindly Read The Full Statement Below:

STAYING AWAY FROM DANGEROUS WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Following several fruitless attempts by the leadership of the nurses to get a
lasting solution to the problems that has persisted for years, exposing
patients and staff to high risk of infection, and which have become a major
source of aggression towards staff and other patients, we have been compelled
to put our safety above all topics.

Today:

1. As a result of the shortage of the essential medications required for
psychiatric management, most patients have relapsed and many of them
demonstrate serious aggressive behaviours towards staff and other patients.
These physical assaults have resulted in varying degrees of injuries and
disabilities spreading fear and panic among the staff and even the patients, to
the extent that the focus now is on staff protection rather than patients care.

2. If staff sustains injuries in the line of duty, he/she takes responsibility
of the medical bills, as we have NO form of insurance policy or risk allowance
to cover the bills.

3. There is a massive shortage of basic logistics needed to carry out our
professional duties such as gloves, spirit, dressing solutions, facemasks,
plaste, sterile cotton and gauze, detergents among others. This exposes the
staff and patients to unnecessary, not only that but human-created risk of cross-infections

4. The food for the psychiatric patient is woefully inadequate and deficient in
quality creating a source of aggressive behaviours.

5. In some instances, staff offer financial assistance to meet certain urgent
needs of patients

It is worth noticing, that the safety of the workers, especially in the
psychiatric setting is non-negotiable.

Effective Monday 31st October 2016, no nurse will subject him/herself to the
danger posed by the workplace until such a time where we have reasonable cause
to believe that the place is made safe.

Thank you.

Signed

Jamilatu Hussein

(Chairperson)