Barbados Welcomes 155 More Nurses from Ghana to Cushion Healthcare Workforce [Details]

Barbados has taken a significant step to enhance its healthcare workforce with the arrival of 155 nurses from Ghana, who landed at Grantley Adams International Airport today. The nurses are part of an ongoing initiative to address the country’s nursing shortage, and they were warmly welcomed by officials, including Barbados’ Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, and Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, Adelaide Ntim.

This arrival marks the third cohort of Ghanaian nurses to join Barbados’ healthcare system since the program’s inception in 2020. The collaboration, launched to tackle staffing challenges, has provided Barbados with a steady inflow of qualified nurses, beginning with the arrival of 95 nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by 120 more in 2022. Many of the initial recruits have chosen to make Barbados their permanent home.

Minister Walcott expressed his optimism about the impact of the latest cohort. The new nurses are set to join specialist departments at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and various primary care facilities across Barbados. Specific areas that will benefit include cardiology, accident and emergency, theatre services, midwifery, psychiatric medicine, and geriatrics.

“We’re looking for these nurses to help improve the overall delivery of our healthcare,” Minister Walcott said, emphasizing the expertise that the Ghanaian nurses bring to Barbados’ medical facilities.

Deputy Minister Ntim also voiced her support for the partnership, noting that Ghana has an abundant supply of nurses, many of whom remain unemployed due to limited local opportunities. She commended the previous cohorts for their dedication and assured Barbadian officials that the new arrivals would bring the same commitment and high standard of care.

The ongoing partnership has fostered cultural exchange and mutual benefits for both nations. For Barbados, the additional staff alleviates the strain on healthcare resources, while for Ghana, it offers professional growth for nurses who might otherwise face limited prospects.