Nurses In High Demand As Ministry Of Health Hiring Drive Gets Underway

Nurses are set to make up the largest portion of new healthcare workers which the Ministry of Health is aiming to recruit by the end of this year, according to details published by the Civil Service Commission. 

On Friday, the Ministry of Health advertised for 11,270 job vacancies, including 3,260 slots for registered nurses. 

The ministry also aims to hire an additional 510 resident medical officers, 214 cleaners, 148 general workers, 44 mortuary attendants and 147 drivers.

Reacting to the announcement, Dr Brian Sampa of the Resident Doctors Association said it was good news that the government was finding jobs for more than 80% of the 800 unemployed doctors. He added that 510 jobs was a good number, considering the other hiring priorities the government is having to balance. 

President Hakainde Hichilema announced the formal start of the hiring process following a visit to the Ministry of Health on Friday. Adverts are expected to run in the Times and Zambia Daily Mail newspapers until April 1st, with vacancies for a wide variety of positions: from pharmacists to dental technologists.

The recruitment drive delivers on a key pledge of the New Dawn government’s election manifesto to deliver quality healthcare for all Zambians. Recruiting is taking place across all 116 districts and applicants are advised to apply for jobs in one district only. 

During his visit to the Ministry of Health, President Hichilema emphasised that government jobs are for everyone and advised the Civil Service Commission not to employ only those with connections to the minister or permanent secretary – as had often been the case under the Patriotic Front.