The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) Hospital has launched the International Nurses and Midwives Week, with a call for greater investment in nurses and midwives to improve health outcomes and save lives.
The week-long celebration, which started from May 25 to 29, 2026, was launched at Kwabenya in Accra last Monday, marking the first time the hospital has organised a dedicated programme to honour the invaluable contributions of nurses and midwives to healthcare delivery.
The five-day celebration features a range of activities aimed at promoting health awareness, professional development and community engagement.
Following the launch and symposium, other activities for the celebration include a medical screening exercise for the community, health talks at the Out-Patient Department and a selected school, a cultural showcase dubbed “Nurses and Midwives Dripping in Culture,” and games.
Empower nurses, midwives
"This celebration is particularly meaningful because it brings together two powerful themes: 'Empowered nurses save lives' and 'One Million More Midwives.’”
Though different in wording, these themes carry one common message: investing in nurses and midwives is investing in lives,” the Medical Superintendent of GAEC Hospital, Dr Akosua Serwaa Kyere, stated at the launch ceremony.
She explained that the global call for one million more midwives underscored the urgent need for more trained, supported and retained professionals to provide quality care for women, newborns, families and communities.
She noted that empowering nurses with the necessary resources, education and opportunities was equally essential for strengthening healthcare systems and improving patient outcomes.
"We acknowledge the long hours, sleepless nights and the emotional and physical demands that come with caring for others,” she said.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Director of Radiation Protection Institute, Prof. Stephen Inkoom, the Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, emphasised the importance of empowering nurses and midwives to enhance healthcare delivery.
Prof. Dampare described nurses and midwives as the backbone of every healthcare system, noting that they were often the first point of care in hospitals, clinics, communities and emergencies.
He observed that many women and newborns across the world continued to lose their lives due to inadequate access to skilled healthcare professionals, particularly trained midwives.
“Increasing the number of trained midwives will help bridge this gap and improve health outcomes for mothers and children everywhere,” he said.
Honour
As part of the launch, some senior midwives and nurses were honoured for their long and dedicated service to healthcare delivery.
Chief Nursing Officer, Christina Ackon, who is also the Acting Head Nurse, received an award for 23 years of service, while Nursing Officer, Florence Awuni, received an award for 20 years of service.
Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy Aboagye, was also recognised for over 30 years of dedicated service to the commission.
