Tanzania faces an acute shortage of nurses with only 33,000 trained professionals in the field who have to attend to 45 million people in the country.
Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Rashid
This was revealed by a members of the Tanzania National Nurse Association (TANNA) Executive Committee, Mr John Mgonja in his speech read before the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare Dr Seif Suleiman Rashid who attended as guest of honour on behalf of the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda on the climax of the World Nurse Day.
Mr Mgonja also condemned acts of harassing some of its members including its leaders when they make demands. The climax of the annual event was marked at the national level in Sumbawanga Municipality, Rukwa Region.
He said that as a result of the shortages, there are some hospitals in the country where one nurse attends to more than 40 patients daily while the international ratio should be between six and eight patients per nurse.
“In some areas including Rukwa region the situation is worse because at the moment the region’s 54 health centres are ran and managed by health attendants, this is wrong and not fair to patients and residents of the region,” he added.
He said that the nursing faces another challenge as hospital owners have opted to employ health attendants in the place of doctors.
Mr Mgonja also said that they condemn the act by Dodoma Municipal Director who allegedly attacked a nurse who was demanding to be provided with allowances for uniforms and that of the management of Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) of sacking TANNA leaders after accusing them of leaking the centre’s secrets.
Dr Rashid responded by assuring them that the state values the noble work being done by nurses and their contribution in the country despite working in difficult conditions.
Dr Rashid further assured them that the government is always keen to see that working conditions of nurses across the country is greatly improved.
By PETI SIYAME, Tanzania Daily News
