20 Aug 2017

The Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgato says government is working effortlessly to improve working conditions within the nursing and midwifery fraternity. 

Minister Makgato said this during the commemoration of International Nurses day in Francistown on Thursday. 

Sharing some of the developments aimed at improving working conditions, she said these included an increase in specialists’ nurses and midwifery training. 

Minister Makgato also said they were working on separation of progression lines for the general nurses and specialists nurses. 

Additionally she highlighted that she was aware of shortage of nursing staff country wide, saying the matter will be addressed accordingly. 

She further said even though the ministry was working effortlessly to come up with possible means to address some of the challenges, the efforts were compromised by some of the nurses who were not supportive enough. 

“Some of the nurses are reluctant to go on transfer, this is a common practice among nurses who are to be transferred from urban to rural areas,” she said. 

On another note, Ms Makgato expressed gratitude about the nurses’ performance, saying while they were faced with several challenges, they have remained devoted and served diligently. 

“Your dedication towards your work contributes immensely to the national health care agenda. This also enables the ministry to make notable achievements towards Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG) and in other health related areas,” she said. 

She also said as nurses continue to be in the frontline of providing health care, this should be an advantage to revitalise Primary Health Care approach of providing healthy lifestyles. 

She indicated that this approach will assist in prevention of occurrence of illnesses and different disease. 

“Your ability as a professional group to influence communities with health care matters cannot be over emphasized. I urge you to use that to the advantage of our fight against non-communicable diseases and other emerging illnesses,” she said. 

Meanwhile the President of Botswana Nursing Association (BONU), Mr Obonolo Rahube said nurses will continue to play a role in efforts to raise awareness towards SDG. 

Mr Rahube said the SDG gave them an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have to create a healthier and better world. 

Moreover he said through the SDG, issues of child and maternal deaths could be prevented and also issues of forms of violence, oppression, poverty and several others could be addressed. 

“Nurses are concerned about prevention of child and maternal deaths, improving quality of life. This is evidenced by our 97 per cent of expectant mothers delivering under our care in clinics and hospitals and closely monitoring the infants to develop into a healthy grown adult,” he said. 

Mr Rahube also decried the slow progression of nurses particularly those serving at senior levels and he also highlighted concern over vacant posts countrywide that were not filled. 

Speaking at the same event, the chairperson of Nurses Midwifery Council of Botswana (NMCB) Ms Fanny Matimba made a request that the Ministry of Health and Wellness should consider the concept of private practice by the retired nurses and midwives. 

Ms Matimba said the concept was ideal as it will give nurses and midwives a self-empowerment initiative upon their retirement. 

She also noted that such concept will present a job creation opportunity citing that those who qualify but not yet absorbed in the system could be engaged. 

“The concept of private practice will not only benefit retired nurses and midwives only, some of those not yet absorbed in the system can be engaged and this will help to reduce loss of expertise which is not being utilised,” she said. 

Ms Matimba also noted that the idea will maximise the concept of skill mix which will enhance the primary health care strategy in the country. 

Moreover she said the experience and knowledge that retired nurses have will be put into good use, and such utilisation will form a broad base for nursing services, enhancing outreach to communities and affordability. 

For her part, the chief nursing officer from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ms Khumo Modisaeman raised a concern about poor work ethics and unacceptable behavioural conduct that some of the nurses continue to display. 

She said some of them include being absent from work without any valid reason and several complaints from the public. 

Ms Modisaemang also complained of inappropriate use of social media saying some use abusive language towards their colleagues while others have the tendency to post things they were unable to substantiate. ENDS