Musa Makina
THE Zimbabwe Red Cross Society says its nurse aid training facilities in the country have lately been inundated by prospective candidates who seek to undergo the programme which has become much sought after and internationally recognized.
This comes at a time nurse aids have been going abroad enmasse owing to the demand of their services mostly in European countries.
Speaking at the graduation of nurse aids in Gwanda recently Elias Hwenga, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society secretary general said “Our various training centres have been besieged by droves of prospective nurse aides who trust our brand.
“We have also managed to populate the importance of First Aid in different spheres which include schools, workplaces and even for ordinary citizens.”
Hwenga said the acquisition of Basic First Aid skills is fast becoming a global trend after the realisation that lives were being lost needlessly when there are ways and means to save these precious lives.
“Zimbabwe, through the services and efforts of organisations like the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, which is a first aid service provider of choice and a rare brand which offers internationally acceptable courses, has also embraced this remarkable humanitarian act.”
The intensive training of Gwanda 20 adolescent girls and young women was supported by the Zimbabwe Health Interventions (ZHI) under their DREAMS-RISE and also ensured that they underwent all the stages of training as well as the pre requisite three months attachment at various health facilities.
“Those who are graduating today were trained by the Zimbabwe Red Cross as part of its humanitarian mandate and we value this partnership as we seek to make these lifesaving skills accessible to the grassroots.
“First aid, as a humanitarian act, applies to a broad range of medical situations and is not just a set of skills but also involves the ability to determine the appropriate response to a specific illness or injury,” he said.
Through this partnership, we have managed to train 20 Nurse Aides in Mangwe District, 20 in Beitbridge and another 30 who are in the final stages of the nurse aide program.
Meanwhile, guest of honour who is Gwanda district nursing officer Fildah Sibanda said the graduation of the nurse aides was paramount as their role significantly contributes to the health delivery system.
“The graduands you are seeing today underwent three stages of training and learning for the duration of seven weeks and an additional three months attachment at various health facilities.
“This was to ensure that the graduands have received adequate training and they met demands of the nurse aide job both locally and internationally. On behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe I would like to register my appreciation of the auxiliary role and support from the partners like ZHI and Zimbabwe Red Cross Society,” Sibanda said.
