Online Reporter
Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
A NURSE from the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, Kudakwashe Kokanayi, has been recognised for academic excellence after being crowned Best Student in Regional/Obstetric Anaesthesia at a graduation ceremony at Gweru Provincial Hospital last week.
Kokanayi, an obstetric nurse, emerged as the best student in the category after successfully completing nurse anaesthesia training.
He is also the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) provincial chairman.
The graduation ceremony marked the completion of training for Registered General Nurses (RGNs), anaesthetic nurses and Environmental Health Technicians, while also recognising outstanding performers in various categories.
The event was attended by Deputy Chairperson of the Health Service Commission, Dr Abigail Rugare Kangwende, Health Service Commission Commissioner Dr Lioba Tendai Gunduza, Midlands Provincial Medical Director Dr Mary Muchekeza, hospital management, health workers, graduates, families and other stakeholders.
For Kokanayi, the award is more than a personal milestone.
He said it was particularly significant given the high number of obstetric cases handled at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital and across Mashonaland West Province.
“I was humbled and honoured to be awarded Best Student in Regional/Obstetric Anaesthesia Assessment, having emerged as the highest scorer in that category,” Kokanayi said.
“This achievement is particularly meaningful to me because of the nature of my work at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital and within Mashonaland West Province, where a significant proportion of the patients we manage are obstetric cases.”
Kokanayi said the knowledge and skills he has acquired will enable him to contribute more effectively to the care of mothers and other patients requiring anaesthesia.
“The knowledge and skills gained through my training, together with this recognition, will further strengthen my clinical competence and enable me to contribute more effectively to the care of mothers and other patients requiring anaesthesia,” he said.
“I see it not merely as a personal achievement but also as an opportunity and responsibility to demonstrate and apply the knowledge and skills I have acquired for the benefit of my institution, patients and the province at large,” he said.
Kokanayi said Mashonaland West faces a significant shortage of nurse anaesthetists, a gap he believed could be addressed by expanding training opportunities for nurses in the province.
He called on training institutions to increase opportunities for nurses from Mashonaland West to pursue nurse anaesthesia programmes.
“We, therefore, hope that the available training institutions will consider increasing opportunities for nurses from the province to undertake nurse anaesthesia training,” he said.
“Increasing the number of trained nurse anaesthetists will go a long way towards addressing the existing human-resource gap and improving access to safe anaesthesia services, particularly in areas with a high obstetric workload.”
The shortage of specialised personnel can place additional pressure on health facilities, particularly those serving large populations and managing significant numbers of mothers requiring surgical and other obstetric interventions.
For Kokanayi, his qualification is, therefore, not simply an academic achievement but an opportunity to take his newly acquired skills back to the frontline, where they can directly benefit patients.
Kokanayi expressed gratitude to his family, colleagues, mentors, lecturers, friends and Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital for supporting him throughout his training.
“I would like to sincerely acknowledge and thank everyone who supported me throughout my training journey—my family, colleagues, mentors, lecturers, friends, the institution and everyone who contributed in one way or another,” he said.
“Your support, encouragement, prayers and sacrifices played an important role in this achievement. I thank you all sincerely.”
He said the award should be viewed as a collective achievement shared with everyone who had supported him along the way.
The graduation ceremony also highlighted the important role of continued professional development in strengthening Zimbabwe’s health workforce.
“My recognition marks the beginning of a new responsibility – to put my specialised skills into practice and help improve the quality and availability of anaesthesia services for mothers and other patients in Mashonaland West,”
Dr Kangwende congratulated those who graduated on reaching the important milestone and urged them to embrace their responsibilities with professionalism, compassion and integrity.
She encouraged the graduates to remain committed to serving patients and communities, stressing the responsibility of health professionals to uphold high standards of care and contribute to strengthening the country’s health system.
