Health Minister: No more men Midwiferies recruitment.
Dr. Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, indicated in a letter dated September 6 that an inter-ministerial committee meeting had determined to cease such recruitment. "This is intolerable and must be put to an end immediately because it is against professional medical practice in the country."
On the basis that it is against medical norms, the Ministry of Health has put a halt to the recruitment of male comprehensive nurses as midwives at the district level.
Some district service commissions around the country had begun recruiting male and female comprehensive nurses to work as midwives.
Dr. Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, indicated in a letter dated September 6 that an inter-ministerial committee meeting had determined to cease such recruitment.
“This is intolerable and must be put to an end immediately because it is against professional medical practice in the country.”
Those who have already been hired must be reassigned to roles that match their abilities and expertise, according to Dr. Atwine.
Dr. Atwine has asked the Ministry of Local Government’s permanent secretary to ensure that accounting officers at the district level follow the directions.
Female comprehensive nurses who seek to be hired as midwives would also be affected, according to the Ministry of Health regulation.
“The goal of this circular is to direct you to immediately cease hiring comprehensive nurses to work as midwives,” she wrote.
A certified midwife is defined as a woman in the Nurses and Midwives Act Statutory Instrument 274—1.
“A person shall be eligible to be enrolled as a certified midwife – in the case of a person already enlisted as a certified nurse – if she passes the midwifery final examination, taken following the conclusion of a training period of not less than 12 months,” according to the law.
Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a Ministry of Health spokesman, said that comprehensive nursing is being phased out because there is a demand for health personnel who specialize in nursing or midwifery.
“We are currently working to improve nursing care, which necessitates people having a solid foundation in nursing practice. “What we’ve seen is that comprehensive nurses are moving into administration, and some of them need additional training to become midwives or enlisted nurses,” Mr Ainebyoona added.
The phase-out of comprehensive nurses, according to Mr Ainebyoona, will be gradual.
At the parish level, comprehensive nurses have been working in health facilities.
