News / Health
Govt to unfreeze 631 nurses posts
19 Aug 2014 at 17:31hrs | Views
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has expressed optimism the unfreezing of at least 631 nurses posts will ease the shortage of nurses in government institutions.
The Permanent Secretary of Health and Child Care, Dr Gerald Gwinji said the ministry has forwarded figures of vacant nursing posts across the country and treasury is now finalising the number of posts that can be filled immediately.
"The process to unfreeze nurses' posts is now almost complete with treasury reportedly working on the modalities and numbers of nurses to be recruited," Dr Gwinji said.
Dr Gwinji expressed optimism that while not all the unemployed nurses will be recruited during the first phase, the development will certainly improve the nurse-patient ratio in line with international standards.
"It is estimated that the country has more than 2500 qualified nurses who cannot be absorbed in the health sector due to the freeze effected by treasury," Dr Gwinji said.
Government froze nursing posts five years ago, a situation which has led to a shortage of nurses in major referral institutions countrywide.
The Permanent Secretary of Health and Child Care, Dr Gerald Gwinji said the ministry has forwarded figures of vacant nursing posts across the country and treasury is now finalising the number of posts that can be filled immediately.
"The process to unfreeze nurses' posts is now almost complete with treasury reportedly working on the modalities and numbers of nurses to be recruited," Dr Gwinji said.
Dr Gwinji expressed optimism that while not all the unemployed nurses will be recruited during the first phase, the development will certainly improve the nurse-patient ratio in line with international standards.
"It is estimated that the country has more than 2500 qualified nurses who cannot be absorbed in the health sector due to the freeze effected by treasury," Dr Gwinji said.
Government froze nursing posts five years ago, a situation which has led to a shortage of nurses in major referral institutions countrywide.
Source - zbc
