ZUNO Makes Site Visit To Interact With Nurses and Midwives At Cholera Treatment Center

The ZUNO Team, led by President-Elect Mr. Fray Michelo, conducted a comprehensive visit to the Heroes Stadium, designated as a Cholera Treatment Center in response to the surge in cholera cases in Lusaka.

 Over a five-hour interaction with on-site healthcare providers, working in the triage section, female, male, and pediatric wards, helped ZUNO appreciate the efforts as well as challenges being faced by the nurses and midwives in conducting their work at the Cholera Treatment Center.

During interactions with the Nurses and Midwives, Mr. Michelo emphasized on the importance of continuing to provide quality healthcare despite the increasing cholera cases.   

Mr. Michelo stated that the visit was aimed at giving encouragement and expressing solidarity with Nurses and Midwives at the cholera center.

ZUNO President- Elect Mr. Fray Michelo (Left) interacting with the nurse in the triage section during the visit to the Cholera Center at Heroes Stadium

The President-elect also engaged in a brief conversation with the Minister of Health, Ms. Sylvia Masebo, who was present on the premises to check on the management and coordination at the treatment center.

The Government through Ministry of Health designated Heroes Stadium as a Cholera Treatment Center on 4 January 2024, after cases surged further increasing demand nursing and midwifery services.

Having a large surge of patients as a result of an outbreak puts a stress on the entire health care system especially nurses and midwives whose role changes to adapt to the needs of the patient, their families, and the health center in general.

ICN Presents ZUNO with Memento Honoring Nurses and Midwives

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has presented a memento to Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) in recognition of 2020 as the year of the Nurse and Midwife and the role the ZUNO played in supporting nurses during

ICN memento in form of a unique coin and certificate presented to ZUNO recognizing 2020 designated as Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

the Covid 19 pandemic.

In a letter addressed to the ZUNO President Tisa Chiponda, ICN President Annette Kennedy, stated that the Covid 19 pandemic has shown the benefits of working together, sharing information and supporting each other.

The Memento in form of a unique coin and certificate was designed specially by one of ICNs’ past Board members, Kallooa Bagooaduth, a nurse and recognised artist in Mauritius.

The ICN President noted that although Covid 19 pandemic denied the nurses to commemorate the year 2020, the ICN could not let the designated year fade without acknowledging, not only the difficult year for nurses and midwives, but also remember nursing colleagues who lost their lives in the pandemic.

She said “The power is in strength of unity and purpose.” adding that nurses need to keep up the momentum in order to compel policy makers to invest in nursing and improve pay conditions.

And acknowledging receipt of the memento, the ZUNO President thanked ICN on behalf of Nurses and Midwives in Zambia.   Mrs. Chiponda expressed gratitude stating that the memento is very significant and a reminder of unity exhibited by nurses and midwives during a very difficult time.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the year 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife” which also happened to be the Bicentenary of Florence Nightingale, the architect of modern nursing.