Zanzibar Commits to Better Care for Nurses and Midwives

Zanzibar is stepping up to support the healthcare heroes who save lives every single day.

The island government announced plans to strengthen working conditions and welfare for nurses and midwives, acknowledging their frontline role in reducing maternal and infant deaths. Permanent Secretary Mngereza Mzee Miraji delivered the message to newly licensed nurses and midwives who recently passed their registration exams.

"We recognize the enormous role nurses and midwives play in reducing maternal and infant mortality," Miraji told the graduating professionals. The commitment includes equipping health facilities with better resources and creating improved working environments to ensure quality care reaches every family.

The announcement comes at a crucial time. Nurses and midwives form the backbone of maternal and child healthcare across Tanzania, often working in challenging conditions to ensure safe deliveries and healthy outcomes for mothers and babies.

Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Mwanaisha Juma Fakihi led a two-day orientation training focused on professional standards and ethics. She emphasized that ethical conduct defines caregivers and isn't optional in a profession that carries such responsibility.

The newly licensed professionals passed rigorous examinations designed to meet international standards. Sharifa Awadh Salim, Chairperson of the Zanzibar Nurses and Midwives Council, explained that these exams measure competence and protect the public by ensuring only qualified caregivers enter the field.

The Ripple Effect

This investment reaches far beyond hospital walls. When governments support healthcare workers with better conditions and resources, entire communities benefit through safer pregnancies, healthier babies, and stronger families. Each trained nurse and midwife becomes a lifeline for countless mothers and children throughout their careers.

The emphasis on professional ethics and compassion signals a commitment to not just more healthcare workers, but better trained and better supported ones. Confidentiality, competence, and care will guide these professionals as they serve families across Zanzibar.

Zanzibar's healthcare future just got brighter, one caregiver at a time.