Transcript ZIMBABWE NURSES ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION

ZIMBABWE NURSES
ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION
REGIONAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL NURSES
ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA WITH
LABOUR UNION STATUS
11 – 14 FEBRUARY 2010
SWAZILAND
PREPARED BY REGINA P. SMITH
ZIMBABWE NURSES ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
and
SIMANGALISO MAFA
ZINA GENERAL SECRETARY
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Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) is a vibrant nurses
organization for the Republic of Zimbabwe. It was founded
in 1980 and currently has a membership of about 4800 out of
a possible 16000 members. Membership is voluntary
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It is a participatory non-governmental organization. The affairs of the
Association are managed by a Standing Committee of 6 members plus 10
Provincial Branch Chairpersons to make up 16 National Executive
Committee members, headed by the current association’s President Mrs
Regina Smith. Our country has a National Nurses Act with a Nursing
Council in place and Code of Ethics. Nurses Council governs the practice
of nursing. ZINA constitution was enacted in 1980.
ZINA draws its membership from all health institutions in Zimbabwe,
Public Sector and Private Sector, all qualified nurses who join receive a full
membership status and all student nurses and nurse aides who join receive
associate membership status. Retired nurses who remain actively
participating in the association may receive honorary membership status.
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Mission Statement
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Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) aims to successfully
negotiate for good working environment and good working
conditions that ensure comfort and safety of the patient/client
and the nurse in every health care institution in Zimbabwe .
Driven by team spirit (ZINA) ensures that it represents nurses
in the country through visionary leadership that is sensitive to
national health aims, influence health policy, advancing the
profession through continuing education, practice and
research, partnership enhancement and promoting the highest
standard of nursing care.
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Vision
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Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA)’s vision is to
be the leading Association in Zimbabwe with a
membership of not less than 80%. The strength of
the Association (ZINA) is to lobby for better working
conditions and remuneration to attract retain and
recruit more nurses thereby improving nursing care
provision to individuals, families and the Zimbabwe
community.
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ZINA Functions
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Support and supervision of ZINA activities is done by the
elected ZINA Trustee, who assist and guide the National
Executive Committee in running affairs on behalf of the
association and its membership.
The Association is a supportive body for all nursing matters
geared to education, service, leadership development,
standards and quality nursing care. It is important then that
ZINA is involved in all nursing issues especially by
empowering nursing to protect the right to health for the
people of Zimbabwe.
ZINA is the only voice of nurses in Zimbabwe covering Public
Sector, Private Sector, Local Authorities and Mission
Institutions.
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Affiliation Status
The Association is affiliated to Regional, International and
Local unions/associations to include Southern African
Network for Nurses and Midwives (SANNAM), East,
Central and Southern Africa College of Nursing
(ECSACON), International Council of Nurses (ICN), Public
Service International (PSI) and locally it networks with
organizations like Public Service Association, Zimbabwe
Teachers Association among the list. This scenario is
healthy in the running of the Association because exchange
of notes and ideas is critical in the Association business.
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CURRENT STATUS OF THE ORGANIZATION
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Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) as a mother body has
subgroups under its umbrella. These groups include the
Association of Midwives, Anaesthetists, Occupational Health
Nurses, Mental Health Nurse who all are affiliated to ZINA.
All these spearhead the nurses cause.
Currently the Association is in the process of rebuilding and
restructuring after the inception of the new leadership under
President Regina P. Smith.
Membership is very low due to apathy and poor working
conditions which contribute to massive resignations into private
sector, region and international market where pastures are said
to be greener.
Subscriptions to the association is only USD1.00 per member
per month which is insufficient to meet the recurrent costs to
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run the Association.
Continued
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The subscriptions only started after almost 2 years without any
meaningful subscriptions which were eroded by hyper-inflation.
The Association is unable to retain Office staff due to poor
conditions of service. Coordinator and Bookkeeper resigned
ermasse citing uncompetitive salaries. Fortunately the
Association has managed to employ a Bookkeeper but it still
struggles to employ a Coordinator due to financial constraints.
The Executive is not mobile due to shortage of transport for the
Executive and the financial status of the organization. This
affects the recruitment drive and educational tour to our valued
members.
We have to cover 10 Provinces to meet and recruit more
members.
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ZINA’s Sources of Income
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The source of income besides subscription is
through selling ZINA regalia like jerseys, scarfs
and badges.
Main sustainability plans:We plan to have poultry, rabbits projects in every
provinces.
Tuck-shops.
To increase subscription once the salaries of our
members are increased and stabilized.
We plan to erect a 3 storey building behind our
offices to accommodate nurses from provinces who
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would have come for post Graduate courses.
Challenges to Nursing and Health Services Provision
 The HIV/AIDS pandemic has also taken its toll among
nurses. Fortunately, the nurses are not medically
boarded but they are counselled and started on ART.
Support groups are also formed to help the nurses who
are infected and affected. Financial support is very
critical to the nurses HIV/AIDS groups but the
association is failing to help meaningfully because of
its current financial status.
 Massive resignation of Senior Nursing staff for greener
pastures affected our membership and services.
 Human Resources, internal and external brain drain of
health professionals is still experienced.
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Civil Society/Donors and NGOs are still skeptical
about the Zimbabwean situation so the country is
facing a uphill task in promoting and creating
enabling environment for investor confidence for
donors and NGOs.
Health funding is too little leading to poor
infrastructure, obsolete equipment which need
replacement, shortages of linen, drugs, sundries and
other tools of the trade.
Re-emergency of infections diseases previously under
control like TB.
Food insecurity to the population which causes a
threat to their health this year’s rains are erratic
posing no hope for a good harvest.
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The Association continues to lobby for better working
conditions for its members who are currently earning an
average of USD150,00 per month which is far below the
Poverty Datum Line (PDL) of USD502,00. The pathetic
salaries have led to massive resignations of mostly Midwives
and nurses with specialities.
The country is facing financial crisis but the workforce needs
reasonable remuneration and this puts the Association under
immense pressure to deliver whilst they face hardships from
the employer who fails to budge because of lack of financial
muscle.
If a sister Association can bail us by coming up with an
emergency fund which can be used to kick start projects
which can benefit nurses it will be greatly appreciated.
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Political Contact and Influence: Country
Context
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In every country, government at all levels has a critical role to
play in responding to the health needs of the nation. At
national level the role may be primarily one of the leadership,
policy formulation and resource allocation. At local level the
role is much more immediate and intimate. The formation of
the Inclusive government in February 2009 ushered in new era
of Governance. Things started to change for the better with
improved availability of food in shops, drugs in health
facilities and political stability. The pressure or influence of
external focus which can impact negatively on the health of
individuals, community and nation like sanctions is now the
focus of the inclusive government to unlock gates of
development.
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Continued
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Politicians are not interfering in the running of the
Association.
Contact with Politicians is made through lobbying for their
support to support the nurses cause for better working
conditions and change of the Labour Law regime which is not
favourable when it comes to aspects of Collective Bargaining
and freedom of expression like strikes.
Politicians are supportive to see us fall under one Labour Law
in Zimbabwe.
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Continued
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The introduction of multi currency has brought a lot
of relief to the country but all the Civil Servants earn
far much less the PDL of USD502 per month though
at least they can afford to buy some basics.
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Nurses fall under the Health Service Board where
presentations for better working conditions are made.
Meetings are held on regular basis reviewing
progress.
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Challenges in Sustaining the Association
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Lack of finances to meet Organizational costs.
Executive not mobile to meet membership on
recruitment drive and educational tours.
Low membership due to apathy.
Low salaries for nurses.
Unfavourable Labour Laws where the Association
does consultations not proper collective bargaining.
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Continued….
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Lack of funds to pay affiliation fees to organizations like
International Council of Nurses (ICN).
Some Nurses gained negotiation skills through the Public
Service International (PSI) sponsored shop steward workshops
training in 2007 which was great. But, we still face challenges
in that most nurses are not well versed in Labour Law regime
of the country. As we are to harmonize to fall under one
umbrella Labour Act Nurses need to be trained in Collective
Bargaining and Labour Laws. Our major challenge is lack of
finances to start the training.
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Progress Report on Country/Indicators
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There is a marked improvement in women participation in
decision making. Zimbabwe boasts of a lady Vice President
and a lady Vice Prime Minister.
There are also reasonable Ministries which are headed by
ladies like the Ministry of Labour and Gender Ministry.
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has dropped from a high rate of
30% to as low as 16%.
Family Planning knowledge is around 98% (Zimbabwe
Demographic Health Survey 2007).
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Continued…..
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Literacy rate is above 85%.
Fertility rate fell from 5.4 births per women in 1998 to 3.8
births per women in 2007.
Sadly, Maternal Mortality rate rose from below 100 to above
718/100 000 births.
Life expectancy continues to fall and it is now below 40 years.
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Continued….
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Unemployment rate is still above 85%.
Public Service salaries are between USD100,00 – USD200,00
per month.
Inflation rate is below 1%.
Poverty Datum Line is around USD502,00.
The Public now access ARVs in Public Institutions for free.
We are optimistic that salaries and nurses working conditions
will improve soon.
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Nursing Disciplines Statistics
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General Nurse
State Certified Nurse
State Certified Traumatology Nurse
State Certified Nurse for Mental Handicap
Primary Care Nurse
Midwife
Midwives (Only)
State Certified Maternity Nurse
State Certified Maternity Nurse (Only)
Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric Nurse (Only)
22425
4766
418
1
3481
5979
6
3368
18
859
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Bachelor of Science Degree
Clinical Nurse
Community Nurse
Intensive Care Nurse
Masters of Science
Nurse Administrators
Nurse Anaesthetist
Nurse Educators
Operating Theatre Nurse
Opthalmic Nurse
Paediatrics (Only)
Paediatrics Nurse
68
52
168
231
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346
121
125
397
61
1
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I Thank You
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