Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Timios Kwidini, has urged Zimbabwean doctors to help train more nurses and midwives to close staffing gaps within the country’s health sector.
Kwidini also called for a major expansion of nursing education, including upgrading diplomas to degrees to further strengthen Zimbabwe’s overstretched health system.
Speaking at the Mpilo Central Hospital nurses and midwives’ graduation ceremony held on Friday at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo, the deputy minister said there is an urgent need to expand training opportunities and strengthen the education system for health workers.
The ceremony, held under the theme “Nurses: A Voice to Lead, Health for All,” saw 510 students graduating, including 320 trained in sign language to better assist patients with hearing impairments. The group achieved an overall pass rate of 93.75 percent.
“We want to make sure that we train many specialised nurses in the community so that we accommodate specialised training. Let’s come up with bigger lecture rooms to cater for more students and recruit more tutors to close this gap,” said Kwidini.
The deputy minister also called for the upgrading of the nursing diploma to a degree, noting that nurses study for almost as long as degree students.
“Curriculums must be revised so that next time they graduate with degrees. Nurses are the backbone of hospitals, and the education system should give them the content to learn for degrees,” Kwidini said.
Kwidini further warned against corruption in the health sector, revealing that several bogus doctors had been caught practising illegally in Matabeleland.
“We have bogus doctors who were unlawfully prescribing medication. Another was caught with a fake O’ Level certificate. If there is enough evidence, that person should be fired,” he said.
He also urged nurses to uphold discipline and avoid drug and alcohol abuse.
“Nursing is a calling, it is God’s job. Substance abuse will never solve problems, it will only increase them and affect your health,” warned Kwidini.
The deputy minister said the government was working to make hospital services more affordable, promising a review of current charges.
“With time, we are advocating for free hospital services. Things like X-rays, which cost US$20 right now, will soon be reduced to US$2. We will review the fees because corruption is happening, and we want to improve the healthcare system,” Kwidini said.
Meanwhile, Mpilo Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr Narcisius Dzvanga highlighted the need for better housing for medical staff.
“We are appealing for affordable accommodation for our staff. Currently, there is not enough housing for all our hospital personnel because the workforce is growing. When we look at our financing through the health and service funds, the returns are still low,” said Dr Dzvanga.