International collaboration project shaping the future of global healthcare
(Image caption: UK project team's visit to Accra, Ghana for a capacity building workshop for Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC) staff)*
Academics from the University of Huddersfield are strengthening nursing and midwifery regulation in Ghana.
The Global Health Workforce Programme is a collaborative project funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care through the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP) and administered by Global Health Partnerships (formerly Tropical Health and Education Trust [THET].
By bringing together academia and healthcare, the project is shaping the global health workforce, by helping Ghana’s healthcare adopt global best practices in professional regulation.
The Principal Investigator (PI) on the project, who is a Reader in Nursing and Deputy Director of Graduate Education at the University of Huddersfield, Dr Bibha Simkhada commented, “this collaborative project on the revalidation of nurses and midwives has strengthened regulatory systems and empowered practitioners across all 16 regions, establishing a sustainable foundation for ongoing professional development and better health outcomes nationwide.”
Co-Investigator (Co-I), Associate Dean International and Professor of Global Health, Professor Padam Simkhada shared that, “strengthening regulation today means a safer, stronger global health workforce for generations to come.”
Furthermore, Co-Investigator and Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing and International Lead for the Department of Nursing at the University of Huddersfield, Precious Adade Duodu, commented that: "this project shows what’s possible when global collaboration meets local leadership — laying the foundation for transformative regulation in Ghana, and paving the way for revalidation and a globally-aligned health workforce."
The Huddersfield team is working with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC) of Ghana, to strengthen regulation in Ghana and ensure high quality nursing and midwifery care. This includes introducing revalidation for nurses and midwives in Ghana, which is the first of such revalidation in a low-and-middle income country.
The Co-Principal Investigator and Registrar of the N&MC Ghana, Mrs. Philomina A.N. Woolley commented, "the introduction of revalidation marks is an exciting evolution in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of nursing and midwifery practice in Ghana. The N&MC Ghana reinforces its dedication to public safety and trust. This comprehensive approach ensures that our licensed professionals remain competent, reflective practitioners, accountable to the communities they serve and are equipped to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our nation.”
Among the project’s aims is the establishment of a real-time database and improvements to an existing Management Information System. It is hoped that these actions, and other aspects of the project, will lead to improvements in decision making and opportunities for staff and leadership development that will help Ghana’s healthcare system.
The latest project developments were recently published by the Global Health Partnership which highlights the achievements of the University of Huddersfield and the N&MC Ghana, as well as other key partners, including the University of Liverpool and TechnoFerry International.
*Header image features from left to right: Mrs. Philomina A.N. Woolley, Project Co-PI and Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC) Ghana; Mrs. Agnes Oppong Baah, Director of Examinations, N&MC Ghana; Dr. Bibha Simkhada, Project PI, Reader in Nursing and Deputy Director of Graduate Education, University of Huddersfield; Dr. Susan Jones, former Lecturer and Professional Lead in Nursing, University of Liverpool and Mr. Paul Mark Owooh, Acting Director of Human Resources, N&MC Ghana)