• Government must address the issue of staffing, Nurses are understaffed.
• They are not in the numbers required for them to operate professionally.
• Government should recruit more so as to reduce the nurse-patient ratio.

Zambia Union of Nurses Organization (ZUNO) has called on government to address staffing challenges among nurses in the country to enable them operate in a professional manner.
Commenting on this year’s commemoration of International Nurses’ Day, Organization General Secretary Fray Michelo said in most cases nurses tend to compromise service delivery because they are understaffed.
Mr. Michelo told Money FM News in an interview that from the over 11, 200 health workers that government is recruiting this year, a huge number of that should be nurses so as to reduce the nurse patient ratio and improve service delivery.
“What we would like government to address is the issue of staffing. We are understaffed that is why sometimes the output of them is compromised because they are not in the numbers that are required for them to operate professionally.
“We know that they have allocated over 11, 200 health workers and from that number probably a huge number should be nurses and mid-wives but we would want government to recruit more so that we can reduce the nurse-patient ratio so that nurses are able to discharge their duties diligently,” Mr. Michelo said.
He further called on government to improve the conditions of service for nurses by addressing infrastructure challenges they are currently facing in order for them to execute their duties effectively.
“Another thing we would want government to address is the infrastructure because if you look at this year’s theme which is invest in nursing, it means that they have to improve the conditions of service for nurses and also the infrastructure, environment to enable nurses to work professionally because at times its not like they do not want to do what they need to do but it’s because they do not have what use at time that they need to use that particular thing.so we need government to invest in nurses and make sure that all enablers for them to work are provided in all health instituions,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Michelo advised Nurses across the country to continue working hard, while upholding professionalism as they serve the community.
“This is the international Nurses’ day in which we celebrate our selfless service which we give to the public and this is a day to also remind ourselves how much we have worked especially this period of the Covid-19 pandemic. For two years we haven’t been celebrating Nurses’ day physically, and after two years, this is the day that we will come together countrywide.”
“To all the Nurses I just want to wish them a happy International Nurses’ Day and that they should continue to work hard, be professional, be ethical as they serve the community,” Mr. Michelo stated.
Zambia has today joined the rest of the Globe in commemorating International Nurses’ Day under the theme; Nurses, a Voice to lead-Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health.’