Union launches proficient courses for nurses

NURSES and midwives are critical in the provision of good quality health services in the nation, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kennedy Malama, has said.

Dr. Malama said nurses and midwives face a lot of challenges in executing their duties, and that Government, through the ministry, will continue to work to improve their welfare and working environment.

Dr. Malama said nurses are very critical to health service delivery in the country across the continuum of care, which spans in terms of promoting health for the people, preventing diseases, ensuring prompt and effective treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Dr. Malama said this during the official launch of the Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO)’s continuing professional development (CPD) modules for nurses and midwives. He said President Edgar Lungu‘s government has continued to place emphasis on improving the health of the Zambians and the nurses and the midwives were key to ensuring that was achieved.

He said there is need to ensure that the quality of health provided is continuously improved, hence the launch of the CPD, which speaks very to the interventions being put in place to address this issue.

Meanwhile, ZUNO president, Tisa Chiponda, said the CPD is aimed at helping the nursing professionals maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and competencies through continuous career development.

Ms. Chiponda requested Government to work together with ZUNO and other relevant stakeholders to put in place mechanisms that will support CDP for each nurse and midwife in the country regardless of the area in which they serve.

“All of them should be accorded chance to sharpen or acquire new skills,” she said.

Ms. Chiponda said the launched modules, put together according to themes and programmes, include maternal health, Zambia surgical guidelines, child health, wellness and nursing skills.

“ZUNO intends to provide these modules to members free of charge and we are yet to put in place modalities that will even see nurses and midwifes who are not yet ZUNO members benefit. ZUNO will ensure that the programmes is sustained for the benefit of the nurses, midwives and general community,” said Ms. Chiponda.