She therefore called on Nurses and Midwives managers to change their ways of thinking about new technology and embrace modern technology to provide quality health care

"Modern technology represents a new challenge for health care professionals especially nurses in the care of patients. Nurses must be familiar with the technology which requires additional training..."

The 2nd National Nurses and Midwives Leaders and Managers Conference had over 180 participants from all the 16 regions of Ghana. It was on the theme: "Integrating Innovation and Advancement of Nursing and Midwifery to achieve Universal Coverage in Ghana."

The Deputy Minister of Health said innovation is vital for improving the quality of nursing care and its sustainability, saying, "Since nurses and midwives are at the centre of care, there cannot be innovation in the care system without nurses and midwives. There is almost no treatment or programme in which nurses' initiative is not important."

She commended Ms Margaret Afriyie, a Midwife who works at Ahwerewam CHPS Compound in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti region who dedicated her life by providing some incentives to mothers to encourage them to visit Antenatal Clinics and deliver at the hospital.

Mrs Mensah said Ms Afriyie's intervention which can be described as innovation has recorded a more than 100 per cent increase in Antenatal attendance and delivery

She advised the Nurses and Midwives to document their innovative activities and make it public for others to learn from it.

Professor Sheila Tlou, Co-Chair of Global Nursing Now Campaign and Former Minister of Health for Botswana, in her key note address advised the Nurses and Midwives to collaborate with other professionals to engage in research since generating knowledge is a powerful tool to influence actions and policies.

"Let's also learn to document our innovations that will be evidence for our innovations," she said emphasizing that "we can input policy by sharing our research findings to improve data.

We also need to help strengthen community systems for health promotion, Prof. Tlou added

Dr Daniel Asare, Chief Executive Officer of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital who chaired the ceremony, reiterated the need for Nurses and Midwives to embrace technology to enhance saving lives.

He also touched on the need for Ghana  to start thinking about palliative care and hospice services, saying the "No bed syndrome and the No space syndrome" can be reduced when persons with terminal illnesses are admitted into palliative care or hospice to ease the burden on the emergency ward and the emergency services in the hospitals.

Dr Barnabas Kwame Yeboah, Head of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ministry of Health called on the government to introduce special monetary incentives for nurses and midwives working in deprived communities especially Community Health Nurses working in CHPS zones.

He advised the junior nurses and midwives to desist from using social media to press home their demands and engaging in unprofessional acts and urged them to cease using the professional uniforms for demonstration and picketing.

Dr Yeboah also commended government for ensuring that majority of the unemployed nurses and midwives have been offered financial clearance and urged government to give financial clearance to those who completed between 2017 and 2019.

Madam Cecilia Ampadu, a midwife who has innovated a delivery metal chair which was recently adjudged the Global 3rd Best Innovative Healthcare Device was honoured with a citation and a plague.