Hannah sat quietly on the worn-out couch in her small living room, the weight of the last few years pressing heavily on her shoulders. The once vibrant young woman, who had walked across the stage to receive her nursing certificate in 2019, was now a shadow of her former self. It had been five years since that proud moment, but the hope and excitement that filled her heart back then had long since faded.
After completing her nursing education, Hannah Narh was filled with dreams of serving her community, providing care to those in need, and building a stable future for her family. She imagined herself wearing her crisp white uniform, her stethoscope around her neck, as she walked through the hospital corridors. But as time passed, those dreams remained just that—dreams.
Despite her relentless efforts, applying to every hospital, clinic, and health centres she could find, all came with rejection after rejection. The healthcare system in Ghana, strained and underfunded, had little room for new graduates like her. The government jobs she had hoped for were few and far between, and the private sector offered no solace.
As the months turned into years, the reality of her situation began to take its toll. Hannah’s husband, Kofi, worked long hours as a taxi driver, but his income was not enough to cover their basic needs. Their son, Kwame, now five years old, was the light of their lives, but Hannah Narh couldn’t help feeling a deep sense of guilt. She had dreamed of giving him a better life—a life where she could provide for him, where he could see his mother working proudly as a nurse. Instead, she felt like she was failing him, unable to contribute financially to their household.
The community that once celebrated her achievements with pride now offered her sympathetic smiles, the kind that stung more than they soothed. Neighbours would occasionally ask, “How’s the job search going, Hannah?” Her forced smile and vague responses masked the deep disappointment and frustration that had taken root in her heart.
Kofi was her rock, always supportive, never once blaming her for their struggles. But Hannah knew that her unemployment was a strain on their marriage. The weight of unfulfilled expectations hung between them, unspoken but ever-present. There were nights when Hannah would cry silently after Kwame had gone to bed, her tears soaking into the pillow as she wondered if things would ever change.
The hardest part was feeling useless. Hannah Narh had been trained to care for others, to heal, to help. But without a job, she felt like she was stuck in a limbo, unable to use the skills she had worked so hard to acquire. She tried to stay positive for Kwame, for Kofi, but the burden was becoming unbearable.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Hannah kept applying, kept hoping, but her hope was waning. She considered other jobs, anything to bring in some income, but they all felt like giving up on her dream. And yet, she had a family to think of. The dilemma tore at her, pulling her in different directions.
Then, one afternoon, as she was preparing dinner, Kwame came running into the kitchen with a crayon drawing. “Look, Mama!” he said excitedly, handing her the paper. It was a picture of a woman in a white dress with a big red cross on her chest. “It’s you, Mama! When you become a nurse!”
Hannah looked at the drawing, her heart swelling with a mix of pride and sorrow. She knelt down and hugged her son tightly, whispering, “Thank you, my boy.” She sobbed, His belief in her, so pure and unwavering, was the reminder she needed to keep going, to keep fighting for her dream.
Hannah Narh knew that the road ahead would be long and challenging. But for Kwame, for Kofi, and for herself, she would not give up. She would keep pushing forward, because somewhere, somehow, there had to be a place for her in the world she had worked so hard to be a part of. The journey was far from over, but Hannah was determined to keep walking it, one step at a time.
One day Hannah came across a website on her phone called patientlifematters.com, which helped to turned her dreams into reality. Even though, she was still unemployed nurse but she was self-employed health educator in her community. She educated schools, churches etc on pressing health issues in her community. When the community leaders saw her immense impact on the health of the community, she was recommended by the opinion leaders to the district director. She was quickly given employment as a registered Nurse in the same community.
Hannah Narh nearly lost hope but with perseverance, determination and the love for her profession her dream turned into reality. This tell us that, there are so many ways we can be profitable by putting our dreams into practice.
THE END
