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ALL SMILES . . . Tariro Vunganai being congratulated by her mother Anna (right) and her friend Thandiwe Mathle after emerging the best theatre student nurse at Parirenyatwa Hospital yesterday

Paidamoyo Chipunza Health Reporter
GOVERNMENT should seriously consider the plight of nurses by giving them decent salaries and working conditions to improve quality of services rendered to patients, a senior nurse has said.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 273 nurses who successfully completed their studies at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare yesterday, principal nursing officer, Sister Helena Mavhaire, said the nursing profession continued to face a number of challenges chief among them long working hours, low salaries and poor working conditions.

Sister Mavhaire low salaries impacted negatively on service delivery as well as causing exodus of skilled and qualified staff, particularly in the areas of intensive care, operating theatre and midwives.

“We are appealing to the powers that be to consider the plight of the nurses seriously,” she said. “As a country we cannot continue to train for other countries while the solution lies here.”

Sister Mavhaire said improving the status of the nursing profession would not only improve their economic status, but will ultimately improve patients’ care.

Turning to the graduates, Sister Mavhaire said the inclusion of the right to health in the new Constitution meant the need for quality health care, improvement of communication with patients and being with patients all the time.

“We need to be responsible and accountable so that we get paid accordingly for the delivery of nursing,” she said.
Speaking at the same occasion, CBZ Bank general manager Mr Peter Zimunya, who was the guest of honour, urged graduates to continue updating their skills.

“Be someone who craves for knowledge,” he said. “Nothing should stop you from improving your knowledge and the sky must never be your limit.”

Mr Zimunya urged the nurses to execute their duties in accordance with the pledge of service undertaken before commencement of their service.

As part of CBZ’s social responsibility programme, Mr Zimunya donated five computers and three heavy-duty printers to Parirenyatwa School of Nursing.

Nursing director in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Mrs Cynthia Chasokela, Parirenyatwa chief executive officer Mr Thomas Zigora and Harare Central Hospital CEO Mrs Peggy Zvavamwe were part of the senior officials in the health sector who attended the ceremony.