Low number of midwives worrying
KITWE School of Nursing, Midwifery and Theatre principal nursing education officer Mavis Chingezhi says the enrolment levels for the midwifery programme are on the decline as most registered nurses are opting for a degree in nursing instead of specialising.
Ms Chingezhi said the trend is worrying because it has the potential to reverse the strides the country has made so far in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
The school is considering adopting the non-quota system practised by universities where first year students are enrolled in a particular school and later admitted into specific programmes depending on the number of points they make.
In the past, the school could enrol up to 60 students for the midwifery programme that runs for one year but in the past two years, numbers have been dwindling, with very few people collecting enrolment forms for the January 2018 intake so far.
“Last year we had 45 students, this year we have 42. I don’t know what will happen next year. I am worried because at the moment we are selling forms but only one has been sold so far,” Ms Chingezhi says.
And Ms Chingezhi said the school is soon expected to introduce a new programme in public health nursing.
The Ministry of Health has nominated the Kitwe School of Nursing, Midwifery and Theatre to pioneer a programme in public health nursing focusing on disease prevention and promotion of health.
Ms Chingezhi said the school is prepared to offer the programme that is expected to start around June – July this year after the General Nursing Council gives a go-ahead on whether or not the school has the capacity to offer the programme.
The Kitwe School of Nursing, Midwifery and Theatre is this September expected to graduate its first batch of registered nurses that have pursued their studies via e-learning.
Ms Chingezhi says the school also needs a bigger bus for its 420 students.
– Zambia Daily Mail
All 1,600 recently recruited nurses and health workers to be paid
GOVERNMENT has called for calm and assured that all the 1,600 nurses and health workers who were recently recruited will soon be put on the payroll to bring the matter to rest.
Ministry of Health Director Health, Promotion and Determinants Kennedy Malama further revealed that all the Human Resource Officers (HRO) from all provinces have since been summoned to Lusaka for a meeting at the Payroll and Management Establishment and Control System (PMECS) to discuss and conclude the matter.
Dr Malama in an interview yesterday said 1,600 workers were affected but was happy that the issue which was being handled administratively was almost concluded and reaffirmed Government’s commitment to bringing the matter to a close.
Dr Malama said of the 7,400 staff only 1,600 were remaining and assured that the matter would soon be concluded and that the ministry was working towards closing the chapter.
“I would like to state that the issue of some of our staff not being on the payroll was receiving attention and as I speak all the HRO who are key in this matter have been summoned to Lusaka to conclude the matter, ”he said.
He paid tribute to the workers for their commitment to duty and that the issue was not meant to punish them.
Zambia Union of Nurses Organization (ZUNO) chairperson Ernest Mumba said the union was disappointed that over 300 members on the Copperbelt were not on the payroll and had been made to work without pay and that it has continue to engage the Government.
Meanwhile, today’s celebration of nurses day has been postponed to a date to be announced due to the national mourning of freedom fighter Salome Kapwepwe.
– Lusaka Times
Nursing Union demands for safer theatres in the Zambia
The Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) says the union is committed to continue engaging various key stakeholders to ensure that theatres in hospitals are safe for patients.
ZUNO President Liseli Sitali has since called on theatre staff, hospital management, political leaders and the media among other institutions in the country to continue advocating for safer surgery.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Sitali said this in Lusaka today at the Closing Reports and Dissemination Meeting of the “Safer Surgery Saves Lives” phase one pilot project.
The Safer Surgery Saves Lives” phase one pilot project which was launched in April 2015 was piloted at the Kabwe General Hospital, University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and the Kabwe Mine Hospital theaters.
The project is a partnership between ZUNO and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) of the United Kingdom (UK) and was funded by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) under the United Kingdom Department for International Development.
The “Safer Surgery Saves Lives” phase one pilot project 2015 was aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of theater teams in World Health Organization (WHO) surgical checklist 19 item tool in their work.
And Mr. Sitali said the “Safer Surgery Saves Lives” phase one pilot project has helped strengthen nursing leadership influence in operating theaters at the three hospital theaters.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sitali disclosed that the “Safer Surgery Saves Lives” second phase pilot project will commence on 1st April 2017.
Mr. Sitali disclosed the Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital and Four First Level Hospitals under the Lusaka District Heath Management Board (LDHMB) have been included in the second phase of the project.
– Lusaka Times