Namibia Nurses Union (NANU) is concerned about government’s decision to suspend nurses training, amid the glaring shortages of health professionals in the country.
The union, in a media statement issued this morning, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision made by the health ministry to indefinitely suspend the training programme.
The ministry claimed fund shortages as the reason behind the programme’s suspension.
The training programme’s suspension was announced by health minister Kalumbi Shangula last week, during president Hage Geingob’s townhall meeting at Ongwediva.
The ministry provides training at various heath training centres around the country in nursing, assistant pharmacists, and environmental health practitioners.
NANU, a leading union for nurses in Namibia, said the programme’s suspension raises concern on government’s commitment to the heath care sector.
“This proved that the government is not committed to safeguarding the health of its citizens and has no plan to rescue the Healthcare sector which is on the verge of collapsing with no clear support systems in sight,” said the union.
The union said government has been ignoring the important role nurses play in the country’s healthcare system.
“There is no country in the world which has made progress in the public healthcare sector with the exclusion of enrolled nurses and midwives. It’s therefore irresponsible for government to close down these institutions with the reason of lacking funds,” said the union.
NANU said it was worrying that their members who were employed as tutors and clinical instructors at the centres may now face possible retrenchment.
The union therefore called on the health ministry to reconsider its decision, and rather takes in limited number pupils to save costs.
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