ZUNO e- newsletter / Monthly Issue # 01 August 2015

Also in this issue

Zambia journeys towards safer surgery

ICT & patient care

News briefs

Over 140 nurses from the University of

Zambia (UNZA) took the oath of allegiance rendering them ready for service. This is the first time the institution is graduating one hundred more nurses from a single class.

The nurses are among the 378 health professional graduands from the UNZA. The graduands in Nursing, Bio medical Science, Environmental Health, Medicine, Physiotherapy and Pharmacy took oath in their respective professions.

The nurses are expected to take up teaching positions in both public and private schools of nursing which will in turn increase the number of graduating nurses and midwives. They are also expected to take up work in the clinical area to improve care.

Respective professional bodies witnessed the event which was graced by the Ministry of Health Director Dr.Kamoto Mbewe.

The professional bodies present included the Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation, the Zambia Medical Association, Hospital Pharmacists Association of Zambia Biomedical Society of Zambia, Zambia Institute of Environmental and the Physiotherapy Association of Zambia

Zambia is currently operating at less than 50% the required human resource for health in different professions.

UNZA has since increased intakes for nurses to more than 300 both on full time and distance learning.

Entertainers during induction ceremony @ UNZA Ridgeway campus

This provides a glimpse of hope that reducing or entirely eradicating the human resource for health crisis with increased enrolment in both public and private universities and colleges.

ZUNO Lusaka Province holds First ever AGM

On 19 August 2015, ZUNO Lusaka

Province successfully held the first ever Annual General Meeting, AGM, hosted by the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) branch.

Over 350 delegates from all the 16 branches were represented. UTH Senior Medical Superintendent Dr. Lackson Kasonka graced the occasion.

The ZUNO executive leadership was represented by Vice President Professional Affairs, Mrs. Perpetual Kalobwe and General Secretary, Mr. Liseli Sitali.

ZUNO members during the Lusaka province AGM

Over 140 nurses take oath ready for service

ZUNO e- newsletter | Monthly Issue #01 August 2015 2

ZUNO in collaboration with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is carrying out the Safe Surgery Saves Lives program aimed at promoting safer surgery.

The objective of the program is to shape policy and practice related to operating theatres, work co-operatively with The Zambia Operating Theater Nursing Interest Group and other professional associations and hospitals

The program will further support the empowerment of nurses to lead and influence change at different levels in health institutions and promote good practice.

The program focuses on the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist which identifies steps of an operation, each corresponding to a specific period in the normal flow of work.

The ZUNO/RCN safer surgery checklist identifies what is known as the 5 Steps to improve communication and teamwork and in so doing reduce the potential for error/patient harm.

This is also a tool for advocacy for safer surgery and patient safety in Zambia. By engaging with the 5 Steps which are; Briefing, Sign In, Time Out, Sign Out and Debriefing one will identify glitches (system /process flaws and problems). These are recorded and trends identified over time enabling revision of practises and procedures through negotiation for improvement at the team level.

The program is being piloted in Lusaka at University Teaching Hospital and will later move to Kabwe after which a decision will be made as to whether it will be rolled out to the rest of the country. The pilot project will run for two years. ZUNO and the RCN share a common identity as national nurse professional association and trade unions. This shared identity suggests common concerns, experiences and skills needed in effectively representing nursing, promoting excellence in practice and shaping health policies.

ZUNO Membership is open to nurses and midwives registered and enrolled with the General Nursing Council of Zambia and employed in both in the public and private sector.

Members have the opportunity of advancing their career through ZUNO membership as the Organisation creates an effective platform for networking and training with local and international partners. Other benefits include;

Collective bargaining Continuous professional

development Leadership Professional & legal

representation and counsel Lobbying & advocacy

Protection against discrimination and mistreatment in places of work

Social and financial support Unit of purpose Access to information &

research activities

IMPORTANT DATES!!!

10-11 December 2015 – Second Quadrennial Conference @New Fairmount Hotel in Livingstone.

2-5 November 2015-TB Workshop @Mika Lodge Jesmodine, Lusaka.

6 November 2015- National Council Meeting @Mika Lodge Jesmodine, Lusaka.

Zambia journeys towards safer surgery

Various surgical interventions are currently on demand globally

Discover benefits of being a ZUNO member

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The General Secretary

Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation

Stand No. 23889, Bennie Mwiinga Housing Scheme

(Formerly PHI)

P.O Box 50375

Lusaka Zambia

Tel: +260- 211-281 869

Fax: +260 -211-281 870

Mobile: +260 – 964 910 842

Email: zuno@zamnet.zm

Website: www.zuno.org.zm

ZUNO e- newsletter | Monthly Issue #01 August 2015 3

“When you're finished changing,

you're finished." - Benjamin Franklin

ICT & PATIENT CARE

This is the challenge that Information and

communication technologies (ICTs) present

to us today.

ICT has become key to the growth of every

sector and the health sector is no exception.

Mobile phones are no longer a luxury

whether smart or not. (Try staying without

your phone for at least five hours!)

Like any field ICT has become evitable to the efficient and effective delivery of health services. It is important that we fully engage in ICT so they can contribute make an impact in the health care system. While ICTs in developing countries are challenged at some extent, Nurses and Midwives can still take advantage of the opportunity ICTs present to improve patient care especially for patients with long term conditions. Technology has potential of closing the barrier of distance to help carers to confirm appointments, transfer of data and arrive at a clinical decision in good time. SMS and web technologies have opened up a whole area of possibilities. All that is needed is innovation. How innovative are you?

FAST FACTS

10,838,000 Active mobile SIM cards in Zambia as @ March 2015 a country with a population of approximately 15,000,000 people.

75% of what is consumed on mobile internet in Zambia is social media.

Briefs

The Zambian government through the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Community

Development, Mother and Child Health has started recruiting nurses and midwives across the country. The Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation, (ZUNO) was invited to orient the participants on ZUNO activities and dispute resolution procedure for essential workers in Zambia, during the three weeks induction workshops for newly employed nurses and midwives working at the University Teaching Hospital, (UTH) in Lusaka. The workshops commenced on Wednesday 29 July 2015 through to August 14, 2015 at Highland house in Lusaka. The Induction workshops are meant to equip newly employed Nurses with knowledge on Civil Service Regulations, Operations, and general conditions of service as well as new trends in the health sector following various cabinet pronouncements. ************************

ZUNO is currently undertaking salary negotiations on behalf of nurses and midwives

with the government of the republic of Zambia for the year 2016.

************************

The Case against the Zambian government’s decision to implement the wage freeze is

still in court. In 2014, ZUNO and the Zambian government entered a dispute which saw ZUNO sue the government over the matter asking the courts to declare the wage freeze illegal. In August the government had raised a preliminary issue citing that the case is thrown out of court as it was over taken by events. The court ruled against this and the case continues. ZUNO will appear for the next hearing scheduled for 23

rd of September

2015. ************************

ZUNO is waiting for the presentation of the 2016 National budget by the Finance and

National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda in September 2015 with high expectations. The Union successfully participated in the pre-budget consultations under the leadership of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions.

Phones via SMS and internet applications have opened the door to countless possibilities.

ZUNO e- newsletter / Monthly Issue # 01 August 2015

Ms. Gloria Mulako – (Secretary)

Mrs Rita Kalomo Mutale – (Programs Officer)

Mrs. Cynthia Mukwasa Bwalya –(Research and Information Officer)

Mrs. Mwaka Kwawi Zambala–(Office Assistant)

The ZUNO Team Welcomes …..