Body targets nurses’ contributions for survival
Following the phasing out of the Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NNO) funding, National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (Nonm) has introduced the check-off system for sustainability of its operations.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Nonm president Dorothy Ngoma said the phasing out of the funding means they have no stable source of income for their operations.
She said Nonm and NNO signed a 10-year sponsorship contract which expires this financial year and they expected it.
Said Ngoma: “It is true we are introducing the check-off system whereby all willing members will be required to pay monthly contributions. It is very important that as an organisation we start taking full responsibility of our operations and ensure Nonm does not die.”
Previously, Nonm members were paying annual contributions fee of K1 000 for nurse midwife technicians (NMT) and K2 000 for registered nurse (RN). Ngoma said this is too little to sustain the organisation.
She said in the new system, the two groups will be contributing K1 500 and K2 700 per month respectively and the money will be collected from their employers.
In December 2015, Nonm had only 3 800 members against around 12 000 nurses, a development that the organisation said poses a challenge to woo new members.
But Ngoma said: “The future and sustainability of Nonm is now in the hands of its members. If we decide not to be members and pay the contribution fee, then Nonm’s future will be uncertain.”
During random interviews at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, nurses gave mixed reactions with some accepting the fees while others described them as high.
Out of the 10 sampled nurses, seven welcomed the development, but they asked Nonm to come up with more activities that benefit them such as the existing leadership training for nurses.
Apart from the membership fees, Nonm also earns income from its buildings which it rents out and Ngoma said they fetch around K2 million (about $3000) per year. n
