Nearly 500 nurses and midwives joined the profession last week when International Institute of Health Sciences-Jinja (IIHS), held a graduation ceremony for its latest class of students.
Some 457 students obtained certificates and diplomas in nursing and midwifery after completing nearly three years of training at the institute. One of them, Clare Musenero, who obtained a diploma in Nursing, is currently operating at a pharmacy in Iganga district. She credited her success to hard work but had a word of advice.
“I urge all health training institutions to [establish] more centres for practicals. For instance, in Jinja alone we have three institutions but we were all squeezed up in Jinja Main regional referral hospital,” Musenero said. “Not everyone had a chance to touch the hospital equipment.”
For his part, Science, Technology and Innovation minister, Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, who was chief guest, tasked the graduands to be open to creating their own jobs.
“Instead of moving [from one place to another] in search of employment, you should organise yourselves in groups and start up something on your own,” Tumwesigye said.
“In case of any opportunity, push on for further studies and enrich yourselves with more knowledge and skills in this competitive health sector market where clients want excellent medical care services.”
IIHS chief executive officer, Dr Sebastian Kezaala, asked government to extend support to private nursing schools in the country.
“Private institutions partner government in educating nurses but we need more interventions like provision of laboratory equipment buses that can ferry students to rural hospitals for [internships],” Dr Kezaala said.
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