Health Carousel Foundation Sponsors DAISY Awards for Nurses in Ghana

Accra, GHA (APR 13, 2023) – The DAISY Foundation, with support from the Health Carousel Foundation, is proud to announce the first presentation of DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses in the country of Ghana. The awards were all a part of the country's celebration of World Health Day, which fell on April 7. 

A ceremony held at the British Council Hall recognized the compassionate patient care of ten nurses. Representatives of the Ghana Ministry of Health, universities, and hospitals attended the event. Also present was Bonnie Barnes, co-founder of the DAISY Foundation.

Dr. Thomas Nii Teiko Tagoe, Accra West Regional Officer, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, was instrumental in bringing the DAISY Award program to the country. He collected and shared with the Foundation inspirational stories of compassionate care for several of the award recipients.

Gloria Sarkodie Addo

As a resident nurse specialist in community mental health and rehabilitation with 18 years of experience in Ghana, Gloria has dedicated her life to improving mental health, well-being, and community mental health nursing. Her passion for helping those in need led her to initiate and champion a psychosocial rehabilitation day care and counseling center at Dodowa to address the psychosocial needs and well-being of clients, relatives, and the community.  

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to mental health, Mrs. Gloria Sarkodie Addo received the Daisy Awards, The Health Heroes Award and was inducted into the Oxygen Health African Hall of Fame. 

Her dedication, courage, and compassion in the face of adversity are remarkable, and she inspires us all.

Aisha Bawa

With over ten years of experience working with the Ghana Health Service, Aisha has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting maternal and neonatal health in the country. She is pursuing a specialty in neonatal nursing with the Ghana College Of Nurses And Midwives. 

Aisha's dedication and commitment to maternal and neonatal health have seen her become a facilitator for Women's Health to Wealth and PATH organization, where she trains healthcare providers to help babies breathe at birth and thrive. She is also passionate about primary healthcare. She educates pregnant women in less privileged communities on safe pregnancy and early child care during Antenatal Care, social gatherings, and social media platforms. Her compassion and empathetic approach to her clients and their families earned her several awards, including the regional best nurse/midwife award in the Ashanti region and the national best nurse/midwife in 2021. 

Aisha's innovations in the healthcare sector are remarkable, and they have made a significant impact on the lives of many mothers and newborns in Ghana.

Lance Corporal Nwakan Johnson

The impact of Nwakan as a nurse may best be expressed by sharing this patient's story. "I met Lance when my mum was admitted to the 37th Military Hospital. He proved to be an exceptional nurse. Unfortunately, shortly after admittance, my mom became highly depressed upon learning of the death of my elder brother. Nurse Johnson made my mom first laugh again by singing and dancing Agbadza,  a local dance form. Then, through his counseling, my mom got her joy back. His actions and care touched my heart and my mother's as well. My mother, our entire family, and I are grateful to Johnson for making our mom smile for the first time in three weeks. The joy he brought did not stop there. After my mom was discharged, he visited her at home and managed once again to make her sing and express her feelings.

Elizabeth Nana Hansen 

Elizabeth is an unsung hero and a true legend in the nursing field. It is no exaggeration to say that she is one of Ghana's most exceptional healthcare professionals in the field of burns care. 

Her contributions and dedication to the nursing profession are outstanding, and she is a role model for nurses everywhere. As a senior nursing officer at the Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Elizabeth has demonstrated unparalleled skill and expertise in wound care, caring for critically ill burns patients (both adults and children). Her knowledge in these areas is unmatched. In addition, she is recognized amongst the top class in the field of burns nursing in Ghana because of her extraordinary and compassionate care. 

In 2020, Elizabeth was recognized as the Best Nurse of the Greater Accra Region by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, a testament to her excellence and the impact of her professional work.

Elizabeth's contributions to nursing go far beyond her technical skills. She is an extraordinary caregiver with a deep commitment to her patients. She works tirelessly to ensure that each patient receives the best possible care, no matter the circumstances.

Josephine Wepiah Atogiwe

Josephine is a nurse of extraordinary caliber whose remarkable career has culminated in her receiving the prestigious President of Ghana Award and state honor for her exemplary role in COVID-19 case management at Kintampo Municipal Hospital, In Ghana. 

Despite the fear and uncertainty surrounding the deadly virus outbreak, Josephine fearlessly stepped up to the plate, taking on the daunting task of managing suspected cases in the holding bay at Kintampo Municipal Hospital. She was an outstanding team member that worked confirmed cases at the treatment center, achieving a mortality rate of less than one percent. This remarkable feat speaks volumes to her exceptional skill, dedication, and commitment to quality care.

Despite facing logistical shortages and stigmatization from colleagues and the public, Josephine's bravery and commitment shone through. She worked tirelessly, risking her health and safety to ensure patients received the best possible care, even when working with minimal staff. Josephine's story is a shining example of what it means to be a healthcare hero, and her unwavering dedication to the well-being of others inspires all those around her. ‍

Angela Tsrakasu

Angela is a true champion for the most vulnerable in society. As a midwifery officer stationed at Avevi CHPS Zone in the Akatsi North District of the Volta Region-Ghana, Angela embodies the true meaning of heroism and selfless service. She is a beacon of hope for pregnant women and children in her community, always striving to provide them with the best care and support possible.

She sees herself on a rescue mission, using her nursing and midwifery skills to provide relief services and support to those entrusted to her care. Her devotion and hard work in delivering maternal and child health, reproductive, and OPD services have earned her acknowledgment. In 2013, The Ministry of Health recognized the Agoufie CHPS Zone, where she worked six years as the best CHPS facility in the Volta Region. 

Angela's passion for helping others has led her to identify and address various challenges pregnant women and children face in her community. Through intensive home visits, she has identified problems such as a lack of transport, decent dresses, and finances to prepare for birth, resulting in poor service delivery performance. To help address these challenges, Angela has put innovative solutions in place, such as undertaking domiciliary midwifery services, ANC motivation packs, bathing soaps, buckets, labor/PNC packs, and sanitary pads for mothers and teenagers.

Ms. Cecilia Ama Ampadu

Cecilia, a Retired Principal Midwifery Officer from the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service, is a beacon of inspiration and heroism in maternal and neonatal health. Her exceptional contributions have revolutionized childbirth in Ghana and earned her global recognition and numerous awards. Ms. Ampadu's visionary approach to childbirth led to her developing the Sitting and Squatting Delivery Chairs, which have transformed the birthing experience for women in Ghana. 

Her innovation has empowered women to choose their preferred birthing positions and significantly reduced maternal and neonatal complications and mortality. In addition, the chairs have been used successfully without complications, morbidity, or mortality in nine regions of Ghana. 

Ms. Ampadu's invention has gained international recognition as a best practice in maternal health, with her chairs being adopted as one of the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) Good Practices for Maternal Health, certified by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), and certified by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), of Ghana. In addition, her innovation won the International Health Technology Challenge in 2019 in Rome-Italy and The African Union Public Service Innovation Award in 2013. 

She said that her compassion and commitment to the health and well-being of women and babies welfare and her dedication to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity inspired her innovation.

About The DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses, an evidence-based means of providing nurse recognition and thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. Today, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 5,700 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing, with meaningful recognition programs that honor nurses wherever they practice, wherever they are in their careers, and through several lines of grant funding that support evidence-based practice projects and medical mission work. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.

About Health Carousel, LLC and Health Carousel Foundation

Health Carousel is a total talent management company with a leading portfolio of workforce and staffing solutions, including travel nursing, locum tenens, allied health staffing, and international healthcare providers. Health Carousel is listed as the 17th largest and among the fastest-growing U.S. staffing firms by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA). It has also been awarded numerous industry awards, including the Best of Staffing Diamond Award by ClearyRated.

Health Carousel is steadfastly dedicated to the highest industry standards, evidenced by: certifications they have earned from The Joint Commission and the Alliance for Ethical Recruitment Practices; codes of professional practice they follow, such as that from the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment; memberships they keep in the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance and the Slave-Free Alliance; and through initiatives supported by Health Carousel Foundation. For more information on corporate activities, visit www.healthcarousel.com.

Health Carousel Foundation is lighting the way in building programs focused on the ethical recruitment, sustainability, and development of healthcare professionals globally. Our participation in the DAISY International Advocate Program is but one example of this. For more information on foundation initiatives, see www.lighttheway.com.

Media Relations Contacts

DAISY Foundation:‍

Tena Barnes Carraher
Co-founder, Vice President Marketing & Communications
The DAISY Foundation
tenabarnescarraher@daisyfoundation.org 
404-285-9158

Health Carousel, LLC:‍

Earl Dalton
Chief Nursing Officer
513‑458‑2567
Earl.Dalton@healthcarousel.com

Health Carousel Foundation:

Andrew Lingo
Director, Ethical Recruitment and Workforce Sustainability
Foundation Executive Director
513-904-6769
Andrew.Lingo@healthcarousel.com

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