marble nkomoRumbidzayi Zinyuke, rumbidzayi.zinyuke @zimpapers.co.zw
ZIMBABWE has launched a massive nurse training expansion programme aimed at improving health workforce availability across the country, with a strong focus on beefing up staffing mainly in rural and previously underserved districts.
President Mnangagwa continues to demonstrate resolute leadership in steering Zimbabwe towards a revitalised and modernised health sector.
His firm commitment to rebuilding public healthcare infrastructure is now visibly taking shape through the extensive refurbishment of major referral institutions such as Mpilo Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare
The scaling up of nurse training is central to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s plan to double the country’s health workforce by 2030, amid growing demand for services and persistent staff shortages in public health institutions.
The aim is to create and sustain at least 32,000 additional public health jobs by 2030, while reducing workforce attrition by 50 percent through targeted interventions.
Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who was touring health facilities in Matabeleland South Province last week, said the country cannot meet its health delivery targets without significantly increasing the number of nurses and other frontline health professionals being trained each year.
“As you know, our target is to double our health workforce by 2030, but we cannot double it at the rate at which we are currently training. That means we must deliberately increase our training capacity, open more training schools and expand intakes so that we produce enough nurses to serve all provinces, particularly rural communities,” said Dr Mombeshora.
Zimbabwe has, over the past few years, faced shortages of Registered General Nurses (RGNs), Primary Care Nurses (PCNs), laboratory scientists and other critical cadres, with rural provinces experiencing higher vacancy rates than the national average.
The health sector is operating below 50 percent of optimal capacity, a challenge compounded by sustained outward migration.
While the nurse training expansion programme would increase the number of available nurses in the country, Dr Mombeshora said this would also address the distribution of these cadres.
“In the long term, we want to increase training to make sure that we train more local people. The previous system was biased towards those in urban areas who had connectivity and easier access to apply,” he said.
“We have now resolved that any district with a training school must recruit at least 50 percent of its students from that district so that we improve retention.”
The decentralisation of student nurse recruitment to the district level is expected to ensure that more rural youths access training opportunities and eventually serve in their home areas.
Minister Mombeshora said training institutions were already being rolled out in all provinces to ensure that no place is left behind. In Matabeleland South, work is underway to refurbish the primary care nurse training school at Maphisa District Hospital to allow it to train registered general nurses. Renovations are expected to be complete by April, with the first intake expected in May.
Another training school at Plumtree District Hospital is also undergoing refurbishment to resume operations.
“We are opening a new training school in Maphisa and we expect it to be ready before Independence, with the first intake coming in by May.
“In Plumtree, we identified a training facility that requires minimal refurbishment, and I have set a target for it to be operational by September. For the first intake, we agreed that the majority of students will come from Mangwe and Bulilima so that local communities benefit directly,” said Dr Mombeshora.
In Beitbridge, where there is no nurse training institution, the Government is planning the construction of a new school to cater for the vast border district and surrounding areas.
“Beitbridge has no nurse training school, yet it is very far from other training centres. So, we want to plan and construct a new training school here to ensure that we cover all districts,” he said.
“Expanding training infrastructure is the only way we can sustainably increase our workforce.”
The expansion drive is also being supported by efforts to upgrade existing health facilities so that they can function as accredited training sites, further increasing national intake capacity.
World Health Organisation Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr Desta Tiruneh, who accompanied Dr Mombeshora on the tour of the province, said the nurse training scale-up was a promising step towards strengthening primary healthcare delivery.
“What I observed during the visit is that the ministry is making a deliberate effort to expand training facilities and increase the production of local health workers,” he said. “If these institutions are upgraded and supported, they will significantly increase the number of nurses being produced locally, which is critical for improving service coverage.”
Dr Tiruneh said recruiting trainees from their home districts was a strategic move that could help address long-standing human resource challenges.
“One of the most encouraging approaches I have seen is the decision to recruit trainees from local areas.
“This will help reduce high turnover and mobility challenges because health workers who come from these communities are more likely to remain and serve there for a longer period,” he added.
“When health workers are deployed to areas where there is no proper housing, retention becomes a challenge. Addressing these gaps will complement the training expansion efforts.”
Communities in Mat’South have welcomed the nurse training drive, saying this would not only create opportunities for local youths but also improve access to care.
Mr Zethi Ncube from Ntoli village in Bulilima said the decentralised recruitment model would make a difference in his area.
Mrs Beauty Moyo said many children were relocating to South Africa because of a lack of jobs.
“So, we are hopeful that now those who qualify will get into nurse training and serve their communities,” she said.
Another villager, Mr Fundulwazi Ndlovu, said establishing a training school in the district would strengthen the local health system.
Online Reporter