Zimbabwe is to stop the recruitment of nurses for training in May next year to standardize the recruitment procedures at all training institutions.
The training is expected to resume in September.
Health secretary Gerald Gwinji announced new requirements to tighten conditions for those who can join the profession in October.
He said those wishing to undergo training must have five Ordinary Level subjects obtained at one sitting and must be below 30.
“The subjects should include English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. The two other subjects exclude practical subjects such as Woodwork, Building, Metalwork, Fashion and Fabrics,” he said.
Enoch Dongo of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association welcomed the move saying it would weed out opportunists.
“It’s a good development because it strengthens our profession as nurses. We don’t want a situation where our profession is taken as a dump site for people. Why? Because we deal with patients hence we need to be assured of having brilliant and competent nurses,” he said.
When nurses went on strike this year and were summarily dismissed reports said Zimbabwe had about 4 000 trained but unemployed nurses.
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