Students who are undertaking Associate Nursing Program from different secondary schools are participating in clinical attachement which will boost their pratical skills as well as strenghening their commitment of joining the nursing career.

From the beginning of this week , on 24^th January 2022,  students from Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare in Huye District, Groupe Scolaire Frank Adamson Kibogora( GSFAK) in Nyamasheke district, ESSA Ruhengeri (Ecole des Sciences de la Santé Ruhengeri) in Musanze District, and GS Gahini in Kayonza District attended the practical attachment. These mentioned students were accompanied by their teachers and headteachers.

Students were welcomed by management of hospitals, and excited to join the fruitful exercises through practical sessions to which it is planned to be conducted twice in a week.

The ability to meet healthcare needs of a population depends largely on the knowledge, skills, motivation and distribution of people responsible for organizing and delivering healthcare services. Quality Nursing and Midwifery are among the critical health professions highly needed in the healthcare system. Hence, there is a need for professional grooming starting at an early age in order to increase exposure and acquaintance with the clinical setting and ultimately improve the quality of the graduated professional. Therefore Associate Nursing program comes to respond to that need in Nursing through early career guidance, mentorship and professional development through different stages.

The Associate Nursing program was introduced in the second cycle of secondary education level to contribute to the thematic areas and priorities of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) 4 related to education, provision of universal quality health coverage at all levels of health care system, strengthening human resources workforce and harmonization with other national second cycle of secondary education level combinations.

In that regards, the Ministry of Education through Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health through Human Resource for Health Secretariat (HRHS) worked together in the implementation of Associate Nursing Program in 2021-2022 Academic School Year with the aim of improving the quality of health services delivery as it is stipulated in  article 58 of the Law Determining Organization of Education No 10/2021 of 16/02/2021.

The Associate Nursing program is a program which was  attained at upper secondary (A-level) by students who wanted to pursue Nursing as their career and have successfully passed senior 3 Examinations.  These cadres will be able to continue their career at university in Nursing and Midwifery, Medicine, Science options, as well as other health related professions to which they will be eligible for.

Graduates from the Associate Nursing Program will be able to support at different level of the health system:  Hospitals, health centers, health posts and community at large. The program was started in seven schools (ESSA Ruhengeri, GS Gahini, ES St Aloys Rwamagana, GSO Butare, ES Remera Rukoma, GS Kigeme, and GS Frank Adamson Kibogora) where each school enrolled 30 students.

Laboratoire d’Analyse Medical in Ruhengeri Hospital

Students of GS Frank Adamson Kibogora at Kibogora Hospital

Students of ESSA Ruhengeri (Ecole des Sciences de la Santé Ruhengeri) at Ruhengeri Hospital

Students of GS Gahini at Gahini Hospital

Students of GS Gahini at Gahini Hospital

Students of Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare at Kabutare Hospital