Ghana's Ridge Hospital Overwhelmed as Nurses' Strike Enters Day Two

Accra, Ghana – Ridge Hospital Faces Crisis Amid Nurses' Strike Ridge Hospital, a major medical facility in Accra, Ghana, is facing an overwhelming crisis due to the ongoing strike by nurses and midwives. The strike, now in its second day, has resulted in the closure of outpatient departments and other key services, leaving doctors to manage an increased patient load without adequate support. "The situation is becoming terrible," stated a reporter for JoyNews, highlighting the impact of the strike. Empty waiting rooms, usually filled with patients, underscore the severity of the situation. The video shows a stark contrast between the quiet emptiness and the long lines of patients waiting outside. One patient, interviewed by JoyNews, shared her frustration: "I came for a review after being told to return in four months, but when I arrived, I was informed that the nurses are on strike. It's been four months, and now that I'm back, there's no nurse available to attend to me. I'm really worried." The Medical Director, Dr. Leslie Zakaria, spoke to JoyNews about the challenges facing the hospital. He explained that the government's plan to deploy rotational nurses has yet to materialize, leaving doctors to perform tasks typically handled by nurses. "We don't have rotational nurses supporting us because they are challenged. They cannot work unsupervised. So the doctors have to do what they can do for the nursing aspects and still do their work. We are under pressure." He expressed hope for a swift resolution to the crisis. The situation at Ridge Hospital highlights the critical role of nurses in healthcare and the devastating consequences of prolonged strikes. The emotional distress of patients waiting for care underscores the urgency of finding a solution that ensures the continued provision of essential medical services.