Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
THE Second Republic’s commitment to strengthening the health sector has received a major boost with new intakes at Gwanda, Maphisa, and Chimhanda nursing schools set to significantly increase the country’s health workforce.
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora revealed that the training institutions will complement the Government’s strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality through increased human resources.
“We have increased our training starting with the RGN intakes which we have now doubled since 2023 and we continue opening new training schools. I am sure some of you might have realised that in the last week there has been an advertisement for intakes for only three nursing schools, one in Chimhanda, Gwanda and Mapisa. These are new intakes and they will be adding new numbers to our intakes. That is why there were only three and then from January they will join the rest of the training schools,” said Dr Mombeshora.
The Minister said the Government has also increased midwifery intake and reduced the eligibility period for midwives from two years to one year after completing Registered General Nurse training to accelerate the production of skilled health personnel.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to address critical human resource shortages, particularly in underserved provinces.
The Government has also approved 5 000 new health posts to strengthen the health workforce.
According to 2025 statistics, Zimbabwe recorded 563 maternal deaths and 6 177 neonatal deaths from 410 051 deliveries.
The major causes of maternal deaths are postpartum haemorrhage and infections, while neonatal deaths are primarily due to birth asphyxia and infections.
Through infrastructure development, equipment provision, and human resource expansion, the Second Republic continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes as part of Vision 2030.
