By Sikhulile Dlamini
MBABANE – Minister for Health Mduduzi Matsebula is of the view that the exodus of nurses in the country presents a good opportunity for similar professionals to be employed in the country.
Minister Matsebula also holds the view that Eswatini has done well in training mental health nurses who are marketable globally. He said this in response to a questionnaire sent to him by this publication.
Matsebula said this, following reports about the 44 mental health nurses who are said to be leaving for the United Kingdom (UK) to work with the National Health Services (NHS) of that country.
When queried of what this means for the country, Minister of Health Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula, said this has opened the gap for more employment locally. “Our local universities have for years continued to train nurses in mental health and thus there is a large pool of unemployed nurses who will still be available to replace those who have left for the UK.” Matsebula said.
The 44 mental health nurses were recruited independently from Government. They were successful in the interviews conducted by the NES Professionals/Limited. The Ministry also acknowledged that the recruitment of the nurses is not a government to government arrangement, but the nurses would be welcomed when they returned, especially because their experience would be a big boost to the health care sector in developing countries like Eswatini.
“While it is critically important that the Ministry focuses on improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers, it is not practical to stop employees from leaving for greener pastures,” Matsebula said.
