KARACHI, June 5: Federal minister for labour, manpower and overseas Pakistanis, Abdul Sattar Lalika, has said that in order to enhance and upgrade the quality of nursing sector in the country, the government would soon launch a comprehensive training and skill up-gradation programme for nurses.
“In the initial phase, the programme will start in Islamabad and Karachi, under which 120 graduate nurses will be selected for the scheme, and they will be provided a stipend of Rs2500, besides free accommodation and transport facilities,” the minister said while talking to newsmen during his visit to the Aga Khan School of Nursing, Aga Khan University (AKU) on Thursday in Karachi.
Explaining the salient features of the programme, he said that the existing nursing schools would be utilized as training centres.
“The government firmly believes that unless better opportunities are not available to them they would remain reluctant to join this specific field,” the minister said and added that in view of the ever-growing demand for nurses abroad, specially in Islamic countries including Gulf states, efforts were on to develop human resources relating to the nursing sector.
He said there was a misperception in our country the work of nurses was confined to giving medicines. “However, nursing is a complete profession and they play a much broader role for the welfare of patients”.
Referring to the standard set up by the AK School of Nursing, he said the government also planned to establish nursing institutions on the same pattern in the public sector also.
He said that emphasis was laid in the past on increasing the number of beds in government hospitals, and as a result the existing ones were under tremendous load which was affecting their performance.
Earlier, the minister visited different areas of the nursing school. He was briefed on the functioning of the school by Dr Michele Upvall, professor and director M.Sc nursing programme and special projects.
Director B.Sc nursing programme, Rozina Karamaliani and director diploma programme Raisa Gul also held meetings with the minister.—PPI/APP