Malawi Veep laments high vacancy rate of nurses, midwives
The Vice President Khumbo Kachali said Friday there is a vacancy rate of 75% of nurses and midwives in the country which puts extreme pressure on them to meet expected delivery of quality health services.
The Vice President expressed the sediment at Kamuzu College of Nursing In Lilongwe when he officially opened the 3rd National Organization of Nurses and midwives of Malawi (NONM) Biennial general meeting.
He said in the presence of this high rate of vacancies nurses and midwives are however playing a key role in the implementation of essential health services for the country to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).
Kachali said government is aware of their problems they face as they deliver the health services saying with close collaboration with donor partners his Ministry will strive to improve the welfare of health workers to ensure that they provide quality health care to people in the country.
“I would like to applaud nurses and midwives for their hard working spirit despite the many challenges they face when discharging their duties,” said Kachali.
However Kachali said it was the responsibility of nurses and midwives to ensure that patient’s rights are respected as it is with any other person.
Earlier the Norwegian Nurses Organization (NNO) Special Advisor Michael Vitols said he was impressed with the role nurses and midwives play in the provision of health care services to people.
Vitols called on the nurses and midwives to be proactive and dynamic in discharging duties and ensure that patients in the hospitals receive quality health care.
He therefore said there is need to strengthen their professionalism as a way of motivation as they provide quality health services.
This year’s theme for NONM biennial meeting is Sustaining NONM to promote professional and socioeconomic interests for nurses and midwives of Malawi.
