Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
RECRUITMENT of public service workers, particularly healthcare staff, should be based on merit and spread equally across all provinces in the country as a healthy nation is key to achievement of national aspirations.
This was said by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Vice-President, when he inaugurated the new 14-member Nurses’ Council board here yesterday.
Dr Chiwenga said the Nurses’ Council becomes the first to be put in place by the Second Republic, as the inauguration happened as a side event to the “Meet the VP” conference which started on Tuesday and was expected to end last night, with participants drawn from various health sector departments, stakeholders and parastatals.
VP Chiwenga said the Second Republic has adopted a new mantra that: “We are the people who can build our own country hence we should be a healthy nation.”
“It is my pleasure to inaugurate the first Nurses’ Council in the Second Republic. This direction by the Government of Zimbabwe and Ministry of Health is to ensure the availability of the right numbers in the health sector with a good mix capable of providing quality services to the Zimbabwe population,” said Dr Chiwenga.
“I call upon the council to assist in the promotion of health of the population of Zimbabwe, regulate, control and supervise all matters affecting the training, recruitment of nurses.
“Recruitment must be equally distributed per province, district, ward and to the village. We don’t want to see nepotism; we must be inclusive and take these critical professionals in the Ministry of Health from all four corners of this country and from all those who are eligible.”
Dr Chiwenga said the Ministry will be assisting in ensuring the right criteria is used in recruitment.
Recruitment of health professionals is a preserve of the Health Services Board and Dr Chiwenga said the Nurses’ Council can use its powers to demand equitable recruitment.
“I inaugurated other health professional councils and had to take time to consider composition of this Nurses’ Council given its nature and expectations.
My instructions to the new Nurses’ Council of Zimbabwe is to see it performing its primary objective of promoting health and well-being of all Zimbabweans. I call upon the council to assist in the promotion of the health profession, regulate, control and supervise all matters affecting recruitment and training of nurses,” said Dr Chiwenga.
He said the nursing practice has significant impact on the health sector, delivering services to 68 percent of the Zimbabwean population who live in the rural areas.
Dr Chiwenga called for mindset change in execution of duties.
“The nursing profession is a noble profession and be reminded of your calling to respond to the dignity of our health.
I am aware of the plight of health service professionals and Government and my ministry have clear plans to improve conditions of service of health professionals,” he said. He implored health professionals to keep pace with changing technology and also to continuously review the curriculum.
Duties of the council include to advise and communicate on any matters affecting the profession, consider and determine applications for regulation of nurses, issue practising certificates to nurses or suspend them in terms of the Act.
The council will also define and enforce ethical practices and discipline among members, encourage cooperation with other councils and evaluate and monitor standards.
The council has 14 members and is chaired by Dr Liaba Tendai Gunduza. — @ncubeleon
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