In an electrifying atmosphere that saw hope rekindled among thousands of nursing students, Kwame Owusu Danso (KOD), vice-presidential candidate of the Afrafranto Alliance, addressed students during his Caravan Tour in the Central Region on Friday 4th October, 2024.
During his speech, he outlined key policies from Alan Kyerematen’s Great Transformational Plan (GTP) that aim to improve healthcare delivery and create jobs for nurses and other health professionals.
KOD, as he is affectionately called, emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms to the Nursing Training Allowance (NTA), which he described as a political football between the NDC and NPP.
“The current form of the NTA is unsustainable and is used by the two main political parties as a tool for political manipulation,” KOD asserted. He explained that under Alan Kyerematen’s leadership, the allowance would be restructured to ensure it meets the needs of students while being sustainable in the long term. “Without ALAWA, most of you would struggle to survive on campus, which is why we must make it better and sustainable for future generations,” he added, receiving resounding applause from the audience.
Another key point in KOD’s address was the introduction of the novel Health Booth policy, designed to create 100,000 jobs specifically targeting the youth, particularly in the health sector. According to him, the health booths will not only generate employment but also decongest hospitals and provide faster, more accessible care.
“There are certain basic health services such as checking blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol that should not require a hospital visit. With these health booths, you will have access to such services within your communities at affordable rates,” KOD explained. He further stated that the initiative would operate on a work-and-pay basis, where those managing the booths could charge minimal fees for their services.
Explaining further, KOD elaborated that the health booths would serve as a solution to multiple healthcare challenges. “These booths will not only create jobs but will also reduce the unnecessary burden on hospitals and save patients’ precious time.
Instead of rushing to hospitals for minor tests, people can get these services done at nearby booths, manned by health professionals like yourselves,” he remarked, to the delight of the students.
The final policy he introduced, which captured the students’ imaginations, was the establishment of community clinics to be co-owned and managed by groups of nurses and doctors. The government, he said, would provide funding for these clinics but allow healthcare professionals with common interests to operate them as independent entities. “A special board will be set up to oversee the fair distribution of these clinics across the country,” KOD stated, highlighting the government’s role in ensuring equal access to healthcare.
He noted that the clinics would operate on a work-and-pay model similar to the health booths, with viability analyses conducted to ensure their success. “Under our Enterprise Economy, we want to empower nurses and doctors to become entrepreneurs in healthcare while addressing the healthcare needs of our communities,” KOD emphasized.
By the end of his presentation, the students were visibly excited, with many expressing their support for the Afrafranto Alliance. “The policies are not just promises but practical solutions to the challenges we face as health workers,” one student commented after the event.
KOD’s tour of the Central Region continues to attract attention, as he and the Afrafranto Alliance push for policies aimed at transforming healthcare and creating jobs for the youth under Alan Kyerematen’s leadership.
