The Namibian government has stopped recruiting foreign nurses among them Zimbabweans with effect from today with foreign doctors now only allowed to extend their contracts to two years. However, foreign doctors and nurses appointed under Bilateral Agreements will not be affected by the new development.
Namibia’s Health Ministry said that the decision was necessitated by the fact that over 200 nursing professionals are expected to join the market by September 1, 2017 after graduating. The circular issued by Namibia’s Permanent Secretary for Health and Social Services, Dr Andreas Mwoombola reads:
Over 200 nursing professionals are expected to join the market by September 1, 2017 after graduating. All State hospitals will suspend the appointments or extension of contracts of non-Namibians as well as Namibians who have reached the age of 60.
As a result, all State health institutions will not renew any contracts that will be expiring as from September 1, 2017 until all young Namibian graduates are accommodated. This is precipitated by the fourth-year students who are graduating end of August 2017 at the government-run Registered Nurse Diploma Project.
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