Mr George Kumi Kyeremeh, Chief Nursing officer, on Wednesday urged more men to join the ranks of Community Health Nurses than is currently the case.
He said this would help address the problem of having to post hordes of young women into the hard-to-reach areas of the country, where they find it difficult to meet suitable life partners.
"These are realities of life and it is better we face and deal with them instead of sweeping it under the carpet.
"The policy of more male staff for the rural areas, if implemented may go along to provide lasting solutions to the problem," Mr Kyeremeh stated.
Mr Kyeremeh was addressing the opening session of the six-day 10th annual congress of the Community Health Nurses group in Ho.
It was on the theme, "Promoting Malaria Prevention and Treatment at the CHPS Zone: the Role of the Community Health Nurse (CHN).
Under Ghana's Primary Healthcare Programme Community Health Nurses are posted to rural areas to spearhead preventive health education and other activities.
He also complained about problems of "basic logistics, accommodation," which confront young Community Health Nurses in general.
Mrs Fanny Enos, National President of the Community Health Nurses Group said the group posed no threat to any other in the Ghana Health Service (GHS), stressing that "our mission is total commitment to the GHS".
Mama Atrato II, Queen of Dome a suburb of Ho and Chairperson of the Ho Nursing Training Institutions, complained about the squalid circumstances in which many of the student nurses lived in rented premises because, because
of the lack of institutional hostels.
Topics to be treated during the congress include "Promoting Malaria Education and Treatment at the Community Based Health Planning Services (CHPs) Zones".
There would also be a National Council Meeting and election of national executives, donations to the children and maternity wards of the Ho Municipal Hospital, clean ups and a trip to the Wli Waterfall.