Diana Hamilton, the award-winning gospel artist and a trained Ghanaian nurse, has shed light on the concerning issue of nurses leaving the country.
In an interview with Johnnie Hughes on 3FM Morning Show, she shared her own experience of moving to the UK and explained the various reasons why nurses are opting to work abroad.
Having moved about 20 years ago, Diana Hamilton made the difficult decision to leave her nursing job in Ghana to pursue her music career in the UK.
She expressed that her passion for music and frequent invitations to perform in the UK made it challenging for her to fully dedicate herself to her nursing profession in Ghana.
“I moved about 20 years ago. My reason for moving then was because I realised that I was doing music and I was invited to the UK a lot and because of that I wasn’t able to fully work here, and I was also not able to do what I had to do ministry-wise so it became so clear that I had to go closer to where the calling was and also to be able to do my work” she disclosed.
Feeling compelled to heed her calling in music ministry, she decided to relocate closer to where her heart and career aspirations lay.
While Diana acknowledged that individual nurses may have their own unique reasons for migrating, she hoped that these decisions are made with careful consideration and for the right reasons.
She also expressed concern for the potential impact on Ghana’s healthcare system due to the exodus of nurses and other professionals from the country.
The President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, also voiced her apprehension about the increasing rate of experienced nurses leaving the country.
She emphasized the importance of engaging stakeholders to find solutions to this alarming brain-drain phenomenon among nurses and other medical professionals before it escalates further.
As Diana Hamilton continues to gain international recognition and promote her latest song ‘Say Amen,’ she brings attention to the complexities of nurse migration from Ghana