By Omonijo Abiodun , 2nd September, 2024
News SOCIETY WATCH following for you; One Year Top-up Program designed for Nurses across Africa Continent has been unveiled in Abuja on Friday, which has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare landscape across the continent and the World at large.
The Unveiling which was made by the UNICITI International Education Hub in Mauritius and Swansea University in Wales through the Health and Education Ambassador, Peace Onuiru
Revealed that the program is not just an academic endeavor but a transformative journey that would empower nurses with advanced skills, knowledge, and global perspectives.
She explained that the one-year top-up program is a beacon of hope, a pathway to excellence, and a commitment to a healthier, stronger Africa designed for nurses who already hold a diploma or BSc in nursing.
Amb Onuiru affirmed that African nurses will receive world-class training directly from Swansea University’s esteemed lecturers on African soil, an investment in the future of African healthcare.
She disclosed that the program is a strategic initiative to curb trend by providing nurses with the opportunity to advance their careers without leaving the continent, to strengthen Africa healthcare systems from within, while ensuring that the best and brightest remain in Africa to serve the communities.
The Ambassador maintained that the program would also address critical gaps in Nigeria healthcare systems by enhancing the quality of care delivered to the people and of the opinion that Africa faces significant challenges in healthcare, including brain drain, the loss of skilled professionals to other continents.
She therefore challenged parents, governments, healthcare institutions, and agencies to take action to contribute to the collective progress of Nigeria.
While noted that the nurses will be equipped with cutting-edge knowledge, skills, enabling them to provide care that meets the highest international standards that would in turn improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare disparities, and contribute to the overall well-being of the nations.
According to her, “The choice of Mauritius as hub for this program is deliberate. UNICITI International Education Hub is a world-class facility that embodies the spirit of innovation and excellence.
“It is a place where African students can thrive, learn, grow, supported by environment that encourages both academic and professional development.
She added, “This program, delivered by the prestigious Swansea University in the UK, will be hosted at the UNICITI Education Hub in Mauritius, a vibrant center of academic excellence.
“In just six weeks, we will begin welcoming students from across the continent, uniting them in a shared mission to elevate the standards of nursing in Africa.
“We recognize that financial barriers often stand in the way of educational advancement, which is why we are offering an unprecedented 70% discount on tuition fees for the first 50 students who enroll.
“This makes the program accessible to a broad range of talented individuals, ensuring that finances do not hinder their potential. Beyond the financial benefits, students will also gain access to a global network of healthcare professionals, opening doors to countless opportunities during and after the training.
“As someone deeply committed to the health and education sectors in Africa,she was acutely aware of the challenges facing the African continent. I have witnessed firsthand the struggles of our nurses—working tirelessly, often with limited resources, yet always with unwavering dedication.
“This program is designed to honor their commitment by giving them the tools they need to succeed. It is an opportunity to invest in our future, to build a stronger, healthier Africa for generations to come.
“Sponsors and partners, this is your moment to make a lasting impact. By supporting this initiative, you are directly contributing to the empowerment of healthcare professionals and the improvement of healthcare across Africa.
“The future of African healthcare lies in our hands. We have the power to shape it, to improve it, and to ensure that it serves our people with the highest standards of care.
“Let us seize this opportunity and work together to empower our nurses, transform our healthcare systems, and secure a brighter future for all” Amb Peace urges.
Also contributing, is a renowned United Nations (UN) Medical Consultant, Dr Ejike Orji who charged practicing Nurses in Nigeria to enroll into the Top-up program for optimum healthcare service delivery.
He advised that the program is one of the key things Nigerians should key into, saying not just Nigerians, the African continent as “we’re losing lot of healthcare professionals to outside African continents.
“And what that means, we are losing what we call the health workforce, which is the bedrock of any healthcare system.
“The reason why Europe and America is snapping away our nurses and our doctors, our healthcare professionals, not just nurses and doctors, is because they want to make sure that they have a strong health workforce.
“The skills and ability for our people to transform beyond what we have now does not exist here anymore.
“So most people who leave the country, they leave because they want to improve their skills. But you and I know by the time they improve their skills, those countries they go to are not ready to accept them.
“And they become what we call global professional citizens, which means they can go anywhere and earn their living. But if we bake our own in Africa and make sure that we provide them the opportunities, they won’t leave the shores of Africa.
“And then if you look at the Swansea University training, the certificate you receive in Mauritius after the top up is the same certificate you receive if you went to Swansea University in Wales. So this is a big opportunity.
“And like I said, for almost half of my professional life in terms of being a physician and being in the international development space, I think I’ve worked with nurses.
“And I know that if we build their workforce, build up their capacity, they will produce the health workforce that will be very important for the African nation or nations to succeed in bringing down the very bad health indicators that we have”, he said.
