In the last months of 2022 and first months of 2023, RNMU collected complaints from its members at all health structure levels which led leaders in the nursing and midwifery profession to discuss and suggest the proposals to improve their working conditions and be able to provide health quality care and achieve national goals and global goals including the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and, Strategic Development Goals (SDGs).
After collecting all the complaints, RNMU was obliged to organize an advocacy meeting with the Ministry of Health to present all the issues that face nurses and midwives. On the 1st November 2023, the RNMU president Mr Andre Gitembagara was given an audience by the Honorable Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana to present the case of nurses and midwives and to find solutions.
Among the complaints and issues by nurses/midwives are Low Salaries Which Considering the day-to-day inflation and cost of living conditions hence difficulty in affording the current market. However, if the salary is Increased together with the monthly Performance-based financing (PBF), it can improve the living expenses for the nurses/midwives today and the honorable Minister gave hope that this issue will be solved as soon as possible.
Since there are no appointment letters to Directors of Nursing and Midwifery, Clinical Directors, and Heads of Departments as it is stated in the Ministerial instructions. (Most of them have acting letters since 2018 and this appears as a threat to the position holders, the MOH also assured that this issue would be processed soonest through Providing appointment letters for staff stability.
Among other solutions pressed on are to Increase the number of staff so that the schedule meets the allowed working hours for respecting the Labor Law and to Replace the resigned and transferred staff for continuation of service delivery overcoming the gap in the number of nurses/midwives.
The meeting was crowned with an expression of gratitude to the Minister for finding time in his busy tight schedule to meet with the nursing and midwifery leaders in discussion of the challenges faced by the nursing and midwifery professionals. RNMU requested for the opportunity for regularity of this great meeting in order to find continuous solutions and feedback for all the challenges that arise.
In conclusion, the team respectfully emphasized the following recommendations
- Salary increases in both practice and academia according to levels of education that can respond to the current market
- Appointment letters for Directors of Nursing, Clinical Directors, and Nurses/Midwives Heads of Departments
- Recognition of the Nursing and Midwifery profession particularly the establishment of the chief nursing officer position
- Establishing a strong auditing Nursing and Midwifery auditing team.
- Providing appointment letters to nurses/midwives who have worked many years under contract
