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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Reporter
Over 50 nurses from both private and public health institutions in the country will take part in the annual East, Central and Southern Africa College of Nursing (ECSACON) regional conference in Nairobi, Kenya, this week.

The 56 nurses and midwives are expected to share experiences and findings on different areas of healthcare, namely maternal, newborn and child health, sexual and reproductive health, evidence-based nursing and midwifery care at a three-day conference expected to start this Wednesday.

The nurses will also deliberate on prevention and control of communicable diseases and innovations in nursing and midwifery care among other issues.

In an interview with The Herald before leaving Harare on Friday, ECSACON country representative Mrs Regina Kanyemba said the meeting was aimed at fostering collaboration between nursing professionals to improve community health.

“Every calendar year, ECSACON hosts a regional scientific conference with the aim of promoting strategic professional collaboration in nursing and midwifery practice,” said Mrs Kanyemba, who is also the principal tutor at Parirenyatwa School of Nursing.

She said Zimbabwean nurses and midwives were drawn from provincial, central and district hospitals across the country as well as private hospitals.

“Eighteen Zimbabweans will make presentations at the conference while three nurse leaders will chair sessions,” she said.

Over 700 delegates who include clinicians, researchers, educators and other related professionals are expected to attend the conference.

ECSACON was established in 1980 and since then has hosted regional scientific research conferences with the previous one held in Zimbabwe in 2014.