ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – More than 100 health workers arrived here from Ghana on Monday night, with Antigua and Barbuda saying their presence will help ease the staff shortage in the health sector.
“You are our brothers and sisters. This means that you have rejoined your family. So my brothers and sisters, I invite you to join me on Saturday evening when we can express the love and the warmth that already fills this room tonight,” said Health Minister, Sir Molwyn, adding he is referring to a common ancestry and a shared humanity.
He told the 119 male and female nurses and six officials on their arrival here that while their ancestors may arrived here in larger numbers under less favourable circumstances, an apparent reference to the Cross-Atlantic slave trade, he wanted to express his appreciation to the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, who supported the recruitment of Ghanaian nurses to work in the healthcare system in Antigua and Barbuda.
Sir Molwyn also expressed appreciation to the Ghanaian minister who traveled to St. John’s last year to meet with health officials and to work out the mechanics of implementing the nurses programme.
Sir Molwyn assured the nurses that there was no need for them to feel any trepidation about leaving their homes to work in Antigua and Barbuda.
“You could not be at a better place than Antigua and Barbuda, and you should not entertain any trepidation or anxiety regarding the treatment that is waiting for you in Antigua and Barbuda. We love you! We are happy to have you! We have been estranged for too long,” he added.
Special Director of the Ministry of Special Initiatives in the Office of the President, Samuel Kojo Appiah-Kubi, thanked Antigua and Barbuda for the opportunity to have Ghanaian nurses here.
“We were a little anxious, but as soon as we landed and met the delegation, we immediately felt at home. Thank you for the opportunity for our health professionals to participate in this health exchange.
“ As you rightly indicated, this programme is very dear to the people of Ghana and the President of Ghana, so much so that our flight was delayed because the president wanted to be there to give us a warm send-off personally,” he added.
The Antigua and Barbuda government has insisted that the recruitment of nurses from Ghana does not mean the end of the programme it has enjoyed with Cuba over the years.
The United States has stepped up its call for Caribbean countries to end the health programme with Cuba, saying Washington “stands with those affected and continues to work for an end to the Cuban regime’s exploitative labour practices”.
But Director-General of Communications, Maurice Merchant, said the Gaston Browne’s government has maintained its focus on expanding and stabilising the healthcare workforce and that the arrival of the health professionals from Ghana is expected to significantly improve service delivery and reduce pressure on existing staff within the public health system.
The merchant said that Antigua and Barbuda nurses are generally highly trained and, like nurses from other Caribbean territories, are wooed by health institutions in North America and Europe with promises of higher pay and greater benefits that the country cannot match.
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