The government plans to increase the number of students enrolled in the Associate Nursing Programme to 1,000 in the next academic year, while also expanding the number of schools offering the programme from 18 to 24. This expansion is part of broader efforts to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, according to Menlas Nkeshimana, Head of the Department of Workforce Development in the Ministry of Health, “Currently, the number of students enrolling in the programme ranges between 600 and 700 each year,” Nkeshimana said in an interview with the national broadcaster. “We aim to raise this to 1,000 annually, which will require opening new schools. These schools are currently undergoing evaluation to ensure they meet the required standards to offer the associate nursing programme.” ALSO READ: Over 200 nurses deployed to health centres Nkeshimana emphasized that the expansion is crucial to bridging the human resource gap in the health sector, noting that some nurses are overwhelmed. You will find that health posts are calling day and night, requesting additional support. By increasing the number of trained nurses, we aim to lessen this pressure,” he said. From 2022 to 2024, more than 1,000 students graduated from secondary schools offering the Associate Nursing Programme. Some 220 nurses from the first cohort of the programme have already been deployed to health facilities with a shortage of staff across the country. ALSO READ: Practical national examinations kick-off with first cohort in nursing schools The first cohort of the programme has completed their studies in 2024, with the next batch expected to graduate in 2026. For students like Alice Karemera, a Senior Three student from Gasabo district, the expansion of the programme represents a chance to turn a long-standing dream into reality. “I’ve always wanted to work in the health sector. My family has many health professionals, and they've inspired me. When choosing what to pursue in A’Level, associate nursing was my first option,” she told The New Times. ALSO READ: Rwanda looks to quadruple healthcare workforce “I’m working hard to excel in the upcoming national exams and become one of the future graduates. I hope this will be the beginning of my dream career.” The associate nursing program was launched through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, as part of the government’s plans to increase the number of healthcare workers in proportion to the population. The programme is also expected to support the 4x4 Program, a national initiative that aims to quadruple the number of healthcare workers in four years. As of December 2023, Rwanda had close to 28,000 healthcare workers. Nearly 15,000 of them were nurses, over 2,000 midwives, about 7,000 allied health professionals. The country had about 700 specialist doctors.
