Deputy Health Minister Orders Nurses Council To Devolve Services To Provinces

Deputy Health and Child Care Minister Sleiman Timios Kwidini has called on the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe to decentralise its services and open provincial offices. He said this would ease the burden on nurses who now have to travel long distances to Harare to register.

Speaking at the International Day of the Midwife commemorations at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) on Friday, Kwidini criticised some parastatals and professional councils for resisting change. He said keeping services centralised goes against the Government’s devolution policy.

His remarks were met with loud applause from nurses at the event. Many have long complained about the cost and difficulty of travelling to Harare at their own expense to register their credentials.

“As the deputy minister, I have seen that there is some resistance to change in our parastatals,” said Kwidini.

“I hope there is a registrar for the Nurses Council, maybe to come to where I am standing.

“While they are coming, I think these are some of the people who are resisting change. Our President has devolved everything.”

The Deputy Minister said there was no reason for the Nurses Council to operate only from Harare, as health workers from the southern provinces face financial and logistical challenges in accessing services.

He said decentralisation supports President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s devolution policy and vision that “no place and no one should be left behind”.

“Why do the Nurses Council and other councils fail to devolve to the northern region to assist these professionals?” he asked.

“Other than them having challenges travelling all the way to Harare for just mere registration to become a qualified nurse.”

Kwidini then asked Nurses Council Registrar Rhoda Mafukidze to give a clear timeline for when decentralisation would begin.

Speaking before delegates, health professionals and development partners, Mafukidze acknowledged the concerns. She said the process was already underway.

But Kwidini insisted that the council must set firm deadlines instead of giving vague assurances.

“As professionals, we don’t want to put someone under the bus, but ‘soon’ is not the time. A time frame is needed,” he said.

“… soon is not the time frame. Anyway, I will be on your back to make sure this is going to be applied.”

More: CITE