More paediatric nurses needed for proper child care

Health experts have asked government to increase on the number of pediatric nurses in the Country.

The experts revealed that currently the country has only 216 trained pediatric nurses including these who have retired adding that the number cannot cater for children who are produced every year.

They have attributed the child mortality rate in the country to the lack of enough pediatric nurses, who are trained to specifically provide childcare.  Currently child mortality rate stands at 131 deaths per 1000 live birth while infant mortality rate reduced from 54 to 43 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Pediatric nurses provide nursing care for children who are suffering from a wide variety of conditions including diseases and cancer or who are recovering from surgery.

During the launch of the Uganda National Association of Pediatric and Child Health Nurses (UNAPCHAN), the chairperson Jolly Rubambarama explained that most of the nurses in the major hospitals do not have a specific training for children but are general practitioners.

'Children are mishandled, in hospitals because the nurses are not specifically trained to provide health care for children including the new born.

Children are injected on the buttocks, yet the normal practice is that children should be injected through the nerves and this has led to disability in children,' she lamented.

Rubambarama also said that nurses have failed to join the pediatric care because they are not considered when recruiting and promoting the nurses.

Samuel Musinguzi, paediatric nurse, explained that in the regional referral hospitals there are no trained pediatricians, urging that the ministry of health should consider recruiting and deploying pediatricians in all parts of the country.

Musinguzi in his presentation explained that in their health training programmes, the not only treat children, but also offer care for parents and care givers of children.

"As child care givers we strive to see that children's rights are not violated, parents are counselled during the time when children are sick and also care for them" Musinguzi said.

Esther Muteesi, a pediatrician and midwife, said that many premature born every day need the attention of Pediatricians.

Ministry of Health advisor on pediatric, Dr Elizabeth Namagala, said the launch of UNAPCHAN, is timely. Adding that many nurses do not know how to handle children which has caused many children to die.

Meanwhile UNAPCHAN has entered into a one partnership with the Fresh Dairy, in which more pediatric nurses will be trained and acquiring exchange programmes with international associations of the Pediatricians.

The director marketing Fresh Dairy, Oliver Mary, said they intend to train midwives in order have sufficient child care providers. Oliver said 'This Company will not only provide training for human resource but will provide nutrition care for the children with their dairy products at no cost,' Mary said.