TTH oncology nurse is overall best graduating participant of ONLEP Cohort II in Africa

Tamale, Nov. 09, GNA – Mr Amos Azure, an Oncology Nurse Specialist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), has emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Participant of the second cohort of the Oncology Nursing Leadership Programme (ONLEP) in Africa.  

He was among 60 oncology nursing leaders from 17 African countries, who participated in the six-month postgraduate certificate programme designed to strengthen cancer care delivery through leadership development and practical quality improvement initiatives.  

Mr Azure formally presented his award to the TTH Management during a courtesy visit by the National President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, accompanied by national and regional executives of the Association.  

The award was received on behalf of Management by Madam Rebecca Matthew, the Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services, who was also serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer, amidst other hospital directors.  

ONLEP was conceived by Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and is hosted by the University in partnership with the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) and City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), with funding support from Amgen.  

The programme equips oncology nurses with competencies in leadership, health systems administration, research, evidence-based practice, networking and collaboration, resource mobilisation and policy advocacy.  

Participants are also required to undertake practical quality improvement projects to address identified gaps in cancer care delivery within their respective health facilities.  

Mr Azure’s project focused on strengthening the capacity of frontline nurses to recognise and promptly escalate chemotherapy-induced toxicities, particularly among patients present at non-oncology units.  

As part of the intervention, 45 frontline nurses across six clinical units were trained resulting in an improvement in their average knowledge scores from 4.64 to 8.20 out of 10.  

A practical decision-support algorithm was also introduced to guide nurses in the early identification and escalation of treatment-related complications.  

Beyond Mr Azure’s achievement, five other ONLEP alumni in Northern Ghana have implemented initiatives to address gaps in cancer awareness, early detection, treatment access, patient navigation and clinical safety.  

At the TTH, Mr Peter Sambian Tonlaar trained 20 nurses in recognising and managing paediatric oncology emergencies, particularly febrile neutropenia and tumour lysis syndrome.  

Ms Gifty Sarfo Annan also trained 30 nurses and midwives in breast cancer patient navigation across the Northern Region.  

At the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, Mr Roger Tandanbil led an initiative to establish a chemotherapy treatment suite through the renovation and equipping of a designated space with two treatment beds and a recliner chair.  

Mr Mohammed Ziblim Osman implemented an initiative to strengthen the early referral of breast-related complaints among over-the-counter medicine sellers in the Tamale Metropolis.  

Similarly, Ms Abena Ntiriwaa Cann conducted a community-based prostate cancer awareness intervention involving 45 men in Pong-Tamale where awareness of prostate cancer screening increased from 28.9 per cent to 95.6%.  

Madam Matthew congratulated Mr Azure and commended him for his commitment to improving healthcare delivery.  

She recalled the Management’s involvement in the project from its early stages and said the training was particularly beneficial to frontline nurses, who might encounter patients experiencing chemotherapy-related complications.  

She noted that inadequate knowledge of such complications could delay appropriate referrals and interventions, potentially compromising patient safety.  

Madam Matthew also commended Mr Azure for his dedication during his previous service in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department and encouraged him to sustain the initiative and inspire other staff.  

Mr Azure said the ONLEP recognition went beyond awarding academic certificates as it equipped nurses with the skills to identify healthcare challenges and develop practical solutions to address them  

He appealed to Management to support the expansion of the project to strengthen chemotherapy safety, with proposed interventions focusing on the safe handling, preparation and administration of chemotherapy drugs as well as the early identification and management of treatment-related toxicities.  

He also informed Management of a planned visit by (C/Can) to explore opportunities for strengthening cancer care across the Hospital’s catchment area.  

Mr Azure expressed appreciation to the TTH Management, Professor Aziato, UHAS, ONLEP facilitators, programme partners and fellow participants for their support throughout the programme.  

Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Benjamin Mensah  

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