On Friday, August 27, 2021, 14 health workers graduated from the CCPTC Module 1 programme. With these new graduates, the CCPTC has trained 231 health workers (Medical Doctors, Physician Assistant, Nurses, Midwives) in all 16 Regions across the country.
The new graduates are:
1. Ms. Stephanny Nana Kum Arthur, Midwife, Abura Dunkwa District Hospital, Abura Asebu Kwamankese District, Central Region.
2. Ms. Janet Aflakpui, Midwife, Abura Dunkwa District Hospital, Abura Asebu Kwamankese District, Central Region.
3. Dr. Takyi Duayeden, Family Physician Specialist, Abura Dunkwa District Hospital, Abura Asebu Kwamankese District, Central Region.
4. Ms. Esther Naakie Akwetey, Midwife, Kade Government Hospital, Kwaebibirem Municipal, Eastern Region.
5. Ms. Ayishatu Seidu, Midwife, Kade Government Hospital, Kwaebibirem Municipal, Eastern Region.
6. Ms. Sandra Agyeiwaa, Midwife, Begoro District Hospital, Fanteakwa North District, Eastern Region.
7. Ms. Gladys Boazu, Midwife, Begoro District Hospital, Fanteakwa North District, Eastern Region.
8. Ms. Christiana Afful Akonnor, Midwife, Tema General Hospital, Tema Metropolis, Greater Accra Region.
9. Ms. Angela Mawunya Katso, Midwife, Tema General Hospital, Tema Metropolis, Greater Accra.
10. Ms. Patience Kuadzi, Midwife, Catholic Hospital, Anfoega, North Dayi District, Volta Region.
11. Ms. Cynthia Akakpo-Ashiadey, Midwife, Catholic Hospital, Anfoega, North Dayi District, Volta Region.
12. Ms. Benedicta Acheampong, Midwife, Kia Greenlight Health Centre, Saamang Fanteakwa South District, Eastern Region.
13. Ms. Rebecca Assibi Nsoh, General Nurse, Nsawkaw District Hospital, Tain District, Bono Region/Hope For Future Generations (HFFG).
14. Ms. Zainab Anokye-Iddris, Midwife, Hope For Future Generations (HFFG), Suame Municipal, Ashanti Region.
The parable of the sower
Matthew 13:1-23
Mark 4:1-20
Luke 8:1-15.
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
CCPTC trainees – where are they, what are they doing?
1. A few never started screening at all after the training. Their institutions did not release them from their departments to start work or never procured the items they needed to start work. Some also got disinterested after the training.
2. Some started work but got frustrated and stopped. Their institutions did not give them any support. Some institutions wanted them to work regularly in their departments and use their ‘free times’ during weekends to do the screening without any remuneration package. They lost interest and stopped.
3. Some were doing well in their institutions but were transferred to other institutions. The new institutions were not interested in a cervical cancer prevention programme so they stopped work.
4. Some were transferred to other institutions that did not have a cervical cancer prevention programme. They started screening in these new institutions and are doing well.
5. Some started work immediately they completed the training and have screened many women, preventing many cervical cancers. In fact some came for Module 2 after Module 1 and have gained more experience, saving lives.
In the coming months we shall be going into where all the CCPTC trainees are and what they are doing. Has the training made any impact in reducing morbidity and mortality from cervical (and breast) cancers in Ghana?