By: Hamza Lansah Lolly
A Ghanaian nurse, Faiza Abdulai has sparked a heated public debate after posting a passionate commentary on the state of nursing in Ghana. Her viral message defends nurses against criticism during their strikes
Faiza’s post responded to backlash over a nurse’s public complaint, with some suggesting that anyone unhappy with nursing should become a doctor instead. But Faiza disagrees with that view entirely.
“Nobody forced her to become a nurse,” she wrote. “But let me emphasise that a doctor’s job is not more important than that of a nurse. They are different professions altogether. And without a nurse, a doctor cannot work especially in Ghana.”
She explained that, on paper, nurses are tasked with basic patient care like checking vitals, administering medications, and assisting doctors. But in reality, she says nurses often perform medical procedures, stabilise patients during emergencies, and fill in for doctors who are few and far between, especially in rural or deprived areas.
“Nurses do it all the time and aren’t paid for it because it’s ‘a doctor’s job,’” she wrote. “We work like donkeys while doctors receive the pay.”
Faiza accused some government officials of downplaying nurses’ contributions during negotiations, resulting in nurses being excluded from critical allowances like risk pay. She also described a culture where nurses who refuse to take on extra duties are labelled difficult or face victimisation.
Her post called on the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to renegotiate salaries to reflect the true scope of work nurses do. She also urged nurses to stop doing tasks outside their job descriptions even if it means hard consequences.
“If people will die, so be it. To make an omelette, eggs must be broken,” she wrote. “People don’t appreciate the sacrifices anyway.”
Her comments come after the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) embarked on the strike after the government failed to meet rheir demands.
