Permit boys to do high level midwifery courses -minister

State minister for higher education, John C. Muyingo has asked the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council to allow boys take nursing and midwifery courses at a higher level like their female counterparts.

Speaking during the release of the November 2017 Uganda nurses and midwives results, Muyingo said that currently, boys are barred from enrolling for midwifery at a higher level.

"It is unfair; I asked one of the ladies who had delivered, and another who is a potential mother that which gender of a midwife they would prefer. One of them preferred a man saying that they are gentler and the other preferred a fellow lady."

He added: "This shows that there're mothers who would prefer fellow women to handle them during pregnancy and there're those who would prefer male midwives so we should not deny those that prefer male midwives by restricting men from midwifery course."

Muyingo advised the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council to initiate discussions regarding the enrolment of male students in midwifery programs, at least at diploma as it is done in other countries in the East African region.

Nsambya hospital midwives and nurses choir listen to speeches during the release of the exams

 
While presenting the results by Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board ( UNMEB), the executive secretary Hellen Karatambi said that candidature has increased where 6,767 candidates sat the exam from 67 accredited nursing and midwifery training institutions.

She said there has been an increase by over 1000 candidates in the last three years; 2015 had 4454 candidates, 2016 had 5500 and 2017 had 6767.

Among the candidates, 4,837 (71.4%) were females and 1930 (28.6%) were males.

Muyingo commended the increase in candidature. However he said: "I pray that one day we shall have as many men as women doing midwifery and nursing, why not? Why should only the ladies take all the money there is in that area when we men are starving? I want to see 50%."

Performance improved

Kataratambi said that the performance of 2017 was better than that of 2016. Out of 5,007 certificate candidates 4,198 (83.8%) passed where 62(1.2%) passed with distinction, 2,929 (58.5%) passed at credit level and 1,207 (24.1%) at pass level. 796 (15.9%) candidates were ungraded and 13(0.3%) were not presented.

Some of the male nurses and midwives from Nsambya hospital

 
Out of 1,760 diploma level candidates, 1633 (92.7%) passed the examination, 45 (2.6%) passed at distinction level, 1,398 (79.4%) at credit level, 190 (10.8%) got pass, 117 ungraded and 10 not presented.

Malpractice free examinations

Unlike the previous exam releases; PLE, UCE and UACE that were marred with exam malpractice leading to withholding of results, Karatambi said their board conducted a malpractice free examination series.

"All candidates complied with regulation 9(3) of the UNMEB examination regulations and therefore no results have been recommended for withholding," she said.

Critical courses yet not attracting students

The UNMEB chairperson, Mariam Walusimbi expressed concern that there is inadequate performance in mental health nursing. "We recommend that the tutor recruitment undertaken by the education and sports ministry gives priority to tutors of mental health nursing," she said.

The Chairperson of the Board of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board, Mariam Walusimbi hands over the November 2017 Uganda nurses and midwives state final examination results to the state minister John C. Muyingo

 
Walusimbi also noted that diplomas in paediatrics, child health nursing and public health nursing are not attractive to students.  "Only 0-5 candidates were registered for those courses in a span of three years. I ask the ministry to investigate why are less attractive and establish the cost effectiveness of conducting those programs."