National Forum of Womans Health, Nurse and Midwifery Training, Pakistan

National Forum of Womans Health, Nurse and Midwifery Training, Pakistan GSK supports the ‘Centre of Nursing Excellence’ in Pakistan, aimed at improving and strengthening the quality of nursing education through an extensive training programme developing nursing capabilities across the country. GSK has committed to provide sustained funding and support for the project over three years after which the Centre will become self-sustaining.

This initiative is the first of its kind, addressing some of the major concerns of healthcare in the country; shortage of qualified nursing instructors and poor quality of maternal and child care services.

Compared to international standards, Pakistan has a serious shortfall of qualified nurses, with an estimated one nurse for about 4000 patients. Like midwives, many nurses receive no formal guidance for performing their duties, seriously compromising the quality of healthcare they are able to give.

Based in Karachi, the Centre of Nursing Excellence programme admits 60 students each year from across Pakistan. There is an extensive six month training course covering a number of health issues such as maternal and child care, sexually transmitted diseases, infection control, genetics and population control. Building on the ‘train-the-trainer’ concept, nursing faculty members are recruited for further skill development through the programme. On completion of the study, the graduates are qualified to impart proper healthcare training to the nursing staff in their respective hospitals.

The Centre is well equipped to provide practical training as well as numerous other facilities, including conference / lecture halls, laboratories, a swimming pool, and a well maintained student hostel. Students are given a monthly stipend to cover their expenses, and as an incentive to complete the programme.

The first batch of 31 students graduated in April 2009, and their appreciation of
the programme is evident.

“When I joined the nursing profession, I never thought I would be able to receive such high quality nursing education and training, so much so that I can now go back and teach the staff at my hospital everything that I have learned here,” says Qadar Nisa, a nurse from a remote community medical service project in Chitral.

Nighat Yasmeen, a nurse who travelled to Karachi from Chakwal to join the programme said, “I learned about so many new techniques here – different ways
to conduct x-rays and ultrasounds, especially for pregnant women. Now I feel
very confident about my chosen profession, and will be able to train other
nurses back at home with ease."

The graduates from the programme will re-enter the workforce as more effective trainers with updated, stronger skills, especially in women’s and children’s health. The resulting ‘multiplier effect’ of their specialist training will mean immediate improvement in healthcare standards all over the country, especially in the most remote and underserved sectors of society.

International programmes