Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 12th May, 2025.
Solwezi, North Western, Zambia.
In a bold affirmation of the crucial link between healthcare and economic development, President Hakainde Hichilema through the North Western Province Minister has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the nursing workforce as a pillar of sustainable growth.
Speaking during the International Nurses Day commemoration in Solwezi, Provincial Minister Hon. Robert Lihefu emphasized that investing in nurses is not only a moral obligation but a strategic lever for building healthier, more resilient communities.
Against the backdrop of this year’s global theme, “Our Nurses, Our Future, Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies,” the Minister spotlighted the transformative role of nurses in driving improved health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs and fostering economic productivity.
“Nurses are the silent engine of our healthcare system, tirelessly ensuring that families, communities and entire regions remain healthy and productive,” Hon. Lihefu said. “When we empower our nurses through education, regulation and fair employment, we directly invest in the future of our economy.”
He praised the United Party for National Development (UPND) government, under President Hakainde Hichilema, for making unprecedented strides in expanding the healthcare workforce, noting that over 4,140 nurses had been recruited since 2021, contributing to the broader figure of 18,000 healthcare workers deployed across the country during the same period.
Hon. Lihefu further highlighted the government’s deliberate policies aimed at professionalizing nursing practice, including the transition of enrolled nurses into the registered nursing cadre, a move designed to enhance competencies and elevate standards of care.
“We acknowledge the backlog, but the Ministry is actively working to ensure all nurses receive the recognition and professional advancement they deserve,” he assured, adding that quality healthcare delivery hinges on a skilled and adequately supported nursing workforce.
In line with the decentralization agenda, the Minister stressed that recruitment processes have been devolved to district levels, overseen by provincial structures, to ensure that hiring remains transparent, accountable and merit-based.
He called upon recruitment committees to uphold ethical standards, warning that the integrity of the process is paramount to sustaining a workforce that is both competent
The Agency.