JB fires Chiudzu at Nurses Council

Malawi President Joyce Banda has replaced Nurses and Midwives Council board chairperson Dr Grace Chiudzu amid rising tension over the issue of nurses upgrading.

The President has since appointed Neema Kandoole, former deputy director of preventive health in the Ministry of Health to replace Chiudzu.

The appointment effective January 13 2014, came just hours after Nurses and Midwives Organisation of Malawi (Nonm) petitioned the President, demanding that nurses’ council board chairperson should step down for not implementing the directive to upgrade nurse midwife technicians to State registered nurses.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, registrar of Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi, Martha Mondiwa, confirmed Kandoole’s appointment.

“I do not know the reasons behind the termination of Dr Grace Chiudzu’s services, all I know is that Neema has already reported for duties,” she said.

Kandoole also confirmed her appointment, saying she is taking the appointment as a second calling from God.

“I am a nurse/midwife by profession and I retired in 2011, and now I am back and that is why I am saying it is a second calling. I cannot say much, because I will have to look at the set-up of the board, its policies and so on and so forth. From then, that’s when I can tell you, how I will work,” she said.

On Monday, Nonm petitioned the President over the failure of the council to implement the upgrading programme and warned that nurses would withdraw their services if no action is taken.

“We wish to inform you, Your Excellency that failure to act on these demands within 48 hours from the time of receipt, nurses and midwives across the country have demanded that they will withdraw their services until their demands are met,” reads the petition in part.