Two nurses have been sworn in to spearhead the National Nurses and Midwives Council (NCM) Board that is charged with regulating 6,000 nurses and midwives across the country.

Since its inception in 1996, the National Nursing and Midwives Council, has been run by a steering committee, but all that changed after the landmark leadership elections that were held yesterday at the Ministry of Health.

Speaking after the elections, the Minister of Health, Dr Richard Sezibera, pledged to support the board and congratulated the new Chairperson Uwayezu Agnes, and the Vice-President Mugarura John, calling on the new team to honour the faith entrusted upon them.

"The Council that was established by law is a significant step in the advancement of healthcare in the country, as it will ensure that all nurses and midwives are qualified to practice; oversee and also actively guide their education,” Sezibera said.

Uwayezu described the inauguration as a landmark for the nursing and midwifery professions in the country.

Following the closure of 41 nursing training institutions that were found to be substandard, Uwayezu said that plans are underway to launch a faculty of nursing at the National University of Rwanda (NUR) to improve professional standards.

She noted that the new board would engage with the ministry to ensure more training of nurses as well as regulating the profession for the benefit of the community.

"Our main responsibility as the board is to safeguard the nursing and midwifery professions by providing and facilitating continuous training and setting up a mechanism for continual assessment for the practising nurses,” she added.

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