The Sunday Mail
A nurse in a room where medicines are prepared and collected – Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda
Shamiso Yikoniko – Health Reporter
Zimbabwe could soon dispatch a contingent of qualified nurses to South Sudan to help set up proper healthcare structures in the world’s youngest nation.
Most of these nurses are among the 2 000-plus who failed to secure employment locally after Government froze recruitment due to limited funds.
South Sudan is piecing together national systems following years of civil war, which destroyed social infrastructure and inhibited further construction and training of professionals.
Its Health Strategic Plan (2011-2015) indicates a shortage of all categories of health professionals, including physicians (one per 65 574 population) and midwives (one per 39 088 population).
The country has been relying on low-skilled health workers and recently turned to Zimbabwe for help. Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Gerald Gwinji said Harare and Juba were finalising the numbers.
“As a new state, South Sudan indicated her gaps and where she thinks we could be of help.
“Initially, they wanted their nurses trained here while at the same time seeking qualified personnel to rebuild their healthcare system. We sat down numerous times and drafted the necessary paperwork, indicating our expectations and the number of people we will be willing to release.
“However, we are not yet certain about the number of nurses to be deployed. If the deal goes through, we will measure their expectations against our resources.”
Zimbabwe trains at least 1 000 nurses yearly, but has been failing to absorb them all into the civil service as Government cannot meet the attendant salary bill.
The authorities are only engaging new personnel to replace retirees, the deceased and those who resign.
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa told the National Assembly on July 1, 2015 that: “The reason for non-absorption of qualified nurses is actually a regret to us as Government. Our desire is that as we train them, they should be employed in the respective sectors of their training.
“However, as a result of constraints in resources, they haven’t been absorbed. We are aware that some have now been out of employment for perhaps a number of years, but everything is being done, now that we continuously take some on board as resources become available.
“Also, I am aware that there are discussions with countries, which have approached us, like South Sudan to have nurses seconded to them. The discussion is well-advanced. From that approach, some of them would be absorbed.”
Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association vice-president Mr Joseph Moyo described the South Sudan plan as a “relief”.
“Though this deployment will ease the pressure of unemployment among nurses locally, it will not absorb all of the more than 2 000 jobless nurses. However, it’s a step towards better days,” he said.
“We appreciate Zimbabwe’s economic situation and as an association, we have been lobbying Government to release our nurses so that they can be absorbed by countries that can afford to.”
