Zimbabwe needs 64,000 nurses to fill skills gap

Zimbabwe is facing a severe shortage of healthcare workers, with a deficit of 64,000 professionals, according to Health and Child Care Minister, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora. The minister revealed this alarming figure during a meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) officials, which focused on tackling the rising issue of cervical cancer in the country.

Mombeshora emphasized that Zimbabwe must urgently double its healthcare workforce by 2028 to meet the growing healthcare needs of its population. The current workforce of 64,000 healthcare workers is insufficient to address the country's health demands, and a significant expansion is required to improve healthcare delivery across the nation.

"We need to double this number to 128,000 by 2028 to meet our healthcare needs," Mombeshora said. He also highlighted the importance of providing attractive incentives for healthcare workers to ensure they remain in the country, given the ongoing exodus of trained personnel, especially nurses, seeking employment opportunities abroad.

The shortage of healthcare workers is particularly affecting vital areas such as community health, which plays a crucial role in mobilizing efforts for cervical cancer screening and other essential health initiatives. The WHO has noted that communities, particularly those on the outskirts of Harare, often rely on volunteers and advocates as their only source of health information.

Cervical cancer continues to be a significant public health issue in Zimbabwe, ranking as the fourth most common cancer globally and regionally. The country has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality, with approximately 3,043 women diagnosed each year. Tragically, 1,976 women die annually from the disease.

Zimbabwe has made notable efforts to fight cervical cancer, but substantial challenges remain. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, the country has the highest cancer-related death rate globally for women, with 142.9 per 100,000 women succumbing to the disease.

In an effort to combat cervical cancer, Zimbabwe introduced a national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in 2018, which has successfully vaccinated over 1 million girls. The HPV vaccine is essential in preventing the virus that causes cervical cancer, as well as genital warts. The country has also rolled out school-based vaccination campaigns, along with outreach programs to ensure that girls who are out of school are not left behind in this critical health initiative.

Despite these efforts, the shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in rural areas, remains a major obstacle in the fight against cervical cancer and other health issues. Mombeshora's call for increased investment in healthcare workers and incentives to retain them is seen as crucial to ensuring the success of health programs in Zimbabwe.

The WHO has expressed its support for Zimbabwe's healthcare efforts, acknowledging the country's significant strides in improving health outcomes but warning that without a substantial increase in the healthcare workforce, the full potential of these initiatives may not be realized.

As Zimbabwe continues to battle cervical cancer and other pressing health challenges, the government faces the dual task of addressing the shortage of healthcare workers while maintaining momentum in its fight against the disease.