Ghanaian and Spanish nurses, united by knowledge

7th of May. The closing ceremony of the public health emergency course for Ghanaian nurses was held today in a crowded online ceremony. It was promoted by Women for Africa and conducted by the General Nursing Council of Spain together with the NGO Solidaridad Enfermera, with the collaboration of the Government of the Canary Islands.

It was a particularly emotional closing for all those who have participated in the course. Professors Laia Esteban and Laura Vera, and director Natalia Rodríguez, received the recognition of the students (this time there were also men among the participants) making up a cohort of a hundred nursing professionals from the Ho Teaching Hospital and the Tamale Teaching Hospital, both in the north of Ghana.

Spokeswomen for the students expressed their gratitude gathered in rooms from each hospital, both for the training received and for the knowledge of epidemiology, vaccines and prevention procedures acquired. They also appreciated the course materials and the dedication and empathy of the teachers. Particularly, they valued the communication and leadership skills that they have been able to share with their teachers since the beginning of the course on the emblematic date of 8 March.

The teachers, for their part, underlined the importance of sharing knowledge and generating synergies between professionals, and highlighted the great involvement and participation shown by the students, who have expressed their willingness to share their acquired knowledge with those of their colleagues who have not been able to follow the course.

All the participants at the closing ceremony expressed their satisfaction with the course. From the president of the Nursing Council of Tenerife and vice-president of the General Council, José Ángel Rodríguez, and the director of Solidaridad Enfermera, Encarna Pinto, to our project coordinator at Women for Africa, Alicia Cebada, and the director of the foundation, Teresa Langle de Paz, together with Esenam Ahiadorme, project coordinator at Wildaf, our partner NGO in Ghana.

The Director General for Economic Affairs with Africa of the Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge and Employment of the Canary Islands Government, Nasara Cabrera, was equally pleased, and reiterated the commitment of the islands to their African neighbours and expressed her joy at having facilitated the training of such an important yet undervalued profession as nursing.

But surely, the greatest proof of the interest and acceptance of this course, which Women for Africa has called NURSES ON THE FRONT LINE, is that all the Ghanaian participants have asked for these collaborations to continue, and have even raised some specific issues of concern to them: fistula, maternal and child care and breast cancer, which unfortunately is becoming more prevalent in the country every day.

We have all taken note.