Maravi

Govt embarks on mass recruitment of nurses

Govt embarks on mass recruitment of nurses
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Sun 01 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

MINISTER of Health Kapembwa Simbao says the government has embarked on a mass recruitment of nurses including retired ones. And Simbao has said the health sector is operating at far less than the required human resource capacity.

During the seventh graduation ceremony of registered nurses at Livingstone General Hospital on Friday, Simbao said the nurse-patient ratio was still high, meaning that Zambia still had too few nurses attending to large numbers of patients.

"Government has embarked on a mass recruitment of nurses and this exercise has been extended to retired nurses who will be employed on contracts. It is our aim that we must not have qualified nurses on the streets, living without employment," he said.

Simbao added that the retention programme under the Health Resource for Health Strategic Plan would ensure that rural and remote health facilities were staffed with skilled health professionals.

"I'm happy to report that gradually this goal is being realised. This scheme is a package of both monetary and non-monetary incentives, which presently benefits health cadres such as nurses, nurse tutors, clinical officers and environmental technicians. This package of incentives comprises monthly allowances, house renovation support, a car loan, post graduate education support and an end of contract bonus. Presently there are 800 health workers on this scheme," he said.

Simbao added that in order to increase the intakes in the nurses' training schools, the government with the support of co-operating partners, had embarked on the construction of hostels and classroom blocks throughout the country.

He said that the ministry, working in conjunction with the University of Zambia, had commenced a direct entry programme for a degree in nursing.

"With this development, the government is confident that the staffing levels in our nurse training schools will greatly improve and this will also contribute greatly to the improved patient care in our service area," he said.

Simbao praised the Clinton Foundation for providing support to the Ministry of Health.

And Livingstone General Hospital acting medical superintendent Dr High Monze said the hospital faces challenges especially for specialised doctors.

"We are therefore requesting for these specialists if we have to provide quality care to the referred patients. This will also reduce the cost of referral of patients to UTH and it will improve the quality of teaching to our student nurses," he said.

He added that the hospital had no ambulance for some years now creating a problem when referring patients to UTH.

Dr Monze added that the laundry equipment at the hospital was outdated and had proved to be expensive to maintain.

"The equipment needs a total overhaul in order to achieve the effective infection prevention programme. The elevators too have been non functional and can no longer be repaired," he said.

Labels: KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, NURSES

posted by MrK @ 6:25 AM