GOVERNMENT intends to increase the number of nursing schools in Zambia to improve healthcare, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde has said.
Dr Kasonde was speaking today during the nineth combined graduation ceremony for 125 nurses and midwives from Northern and Muchinga provinces held at Kasama General Hospital.
The graduands were drawn from Kasama School of Nursing, Chilonga Mission Hospital Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and Chengelo Private Nursing School.
Dr Kasonde said in its quest to deliver quality health care to the people, Government would ensure that more medical personnel who included nurses were properly trained to meet the demands of the growing population.
He said to achieve this objective, Government would ensure that more nursing schools are opened around the country.
Dr Kasonde said qualified personnel and proper infrastructure in the health sector were key to improving the delivery of quality health care.
During the same ceremony, Dr Kasonde also officially handed over two advanced life support emergency services ambulances and the K3.3 million nurses hostels to Kasama General Hospital.
Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe said this year’s graduation ceremony was unique because it also included graduates from – Chengelo School of Nursing -the first ever private Nursing School in the province.
Mr Sikazwe said the participation of the private sector in providing health services was a clear indication that the Patriotic Front policy on public private partnership in health was bearing fruit.
He said many rural parts of Northern Province were facing critical shortage of nursing staff and appealed to the ministry of health to ensure that a large percentage of the graduands are deployed in the area.
He said to discourage staff flight to urban areas government was working round the clock to improve the standards of living in the rural areas.
Nursing Council of Zambia representative Universe Mulenga appealed to the graduating nurses to show commitment to duty and perform to public expectations as nursing was a noble calling.
She called on nurses to care for the physical and psychological needs of patients saying they were the heart of the health care system in the country.— ZANIS