Ministry of health has commended ICAP programs in Malawi as it has managed to address the critical shortage of health care workers as over 700 students have been trained in various health programs since 2012.
Chris Kang’ombe, Ministry of health principal secretary made he remarks in Lilongwe on Friday (February 20, 2015) during the Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI)’s 3rd annual dissemination conference which ICAP held under auspices of Global Health Action (GHA), Columbia University (CU) and Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH) .
Under the theme, “nursing education key to sustainable health service delivery outcomes”, the conference drew participants from members of parliament, district hospitals, donor communities and the media aimed at sharing successes stories the program have achieved in Malawi and on how best they could lobby more funding to increase the intake for health workers.
Among the achievement the ICAP program has done to Malawi since 2012 includes development of PhD courses at Kamuzu College of Nursing, establishment of model care wards, offering scholarships to students to study preceptor ship which has enhance health system of delivery of services.
With funding from PEPFAR, ICAP leads the Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) such that its working in close partnership with Malawi government through the implementing partners including Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi, Malawi College of Health Science, Mzuzu university and US Centerd for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kang’ombe said ICAP programs have set a foundation for proper training among health workers in the country as which has improved quality delivery of health services on patients.
“It’s really a milestone for this ministry as the program has improve health delivery services especially in rural areas such as Ntcheu and Kasungu district hospitals which have model care wards. This will go a long way in addressing human work force challenges the ministry is facing as the programm has strengthened the quality and capacity of nurses and midwifes”, commends Kang’ombe.
He therefore appeal to health workers in the country to desist from mistreating patients as it erodes trust the public have on them.
One of the ICAP program beneficiallies, Serina Chinkhungwa, who has been trained in preceptorship, currently working at Zomba Central Hospital, said she was grateful to the ICAP scholarship which has also helped her imparting knowledge among nurse students to become ideal health workers which has improved health delivery services.
In her remarks, Gertrude Chipungu, ICAP Country Director, attributed the success of the program due to support gotten from ministry of health, the continual flow of funding and implementing partners.
“ICAP programs successes in Malawi are attributed to our partners in all circles such that this country images of the best which the program has yielded results. Therefore, we appeal for more funding as more health workers are needed especially in rural hospitals where health delivery services is critical which needs urgent attention”, appeals Chipungu.
Founded in 2003, ICAP supports programs and research that adress major health issues such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases.
ICAP works in collaboration with partners around the world to support high-performing health system strengthening initiative and implements innovative and sustainable health solutions.
ICAP,is situated at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, works in partnership with government and non-governmental organisations and is currently working in more than 3,479 health facilities across 21 countries including Malawi.
