Government is planning to re-open Mbereshi and Chitambo Schools of Nursing which were closed because of a critical shortage of nursing tutors, Southern Province Minister Josephine Limata has said.
Ms Limata said the feasibility studies were currently being done to reopen the two nursing schools.
She said Kalene, Nchanga North and Roan Antelope Schools of Nursing, which were previously closed because of a critical shortage of nursing tutors, had already been opened and were operational currently.
Ms Limata said this in a speech read for her by Livingstone District Commissioner Paul Sensele in the tourist capital yesterday during the official opening of the 1st Health Workers Union of Zambia (HWUZ) biannual delegates’ conference.
The gathering, which has attracted delegates across Zambia, is currently being held at New Fairmount Hotel under the theme Health Key to High Productivity and A Better Zambia.
Ms Limata said the Ministry of Health was also planning to introduce new programmes in existing training institutions such as midwifery training.
“I wish to assure you that my Government is committed to improving the health sector in terms of providing appropriate infrastructure and improving the conditions of service among others.
Health workers have already benefited from this year’s collective bargaining through consolidation and rationalisation of salaries and allowances in line with the Patriotic Front (PF) mission statement for the health sector,” she said.
HWUZ president Chrispin Sampa commended Zambia’s foreign cooperating partners who recently pledged to continue supporting the health sector in various programmes.
Mr Sampa said the pledge was a step in the right direction and implored other donors to emulate the gesture.
He however said the PF Government should begin to reduce donor dependence as soon as possible to avoid a black last when donors decide to withdraw like they did in 2009.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Lenard Hikaumba urged health workers not to vote for parliamentarians who deliberately cause by-elections.
Mr Hikaumba said the money spent during by-elections should be used to improve the health sector and hence people who cause by-elections should not be supported.
In a vote of thanks, HWUZ provincial secretary Damiano Tembo urged the Government to ensure that the promise of liquidating outstanding alliances was done before the next bargaining process.
Weldone PF this is good news.
Sata means well for mother Zambia.
how does he mean well when the talked about kalene has only two nursing tutors against over 80 students dont listen to zambian politicians you will have hypertension when you discover the truth
Seleni tubombeko