The Nursing Council of Kenya will be required to work with Kenya Medical Training Institute to ensure that partially functional medical colleges are up and running.
The PS, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards Josephine Mburu said this will in the long run offer training and employment to the Kenyan youth.
Mburu on Wednesday met with the Nursing Council CEO Edna Tallam and KMTC officials.
They discussed various issues affecting the nursing profession and reclaim nursing values and professionalism at both the training and practice level.
“The institutions will also work with counties to identify facilities and institutions for practicals and attachment for the trainees in order to equip them with the requisite skills,” a statement from the ministry said.
Mburu challenged the council to regulate and standardise registered nurses, nurse assistants, patient attendants and counseling psychologists.
They implored the branding of various cadres in the spirit of Florence Nightingale in order to bring dignity to nursing practice and address insecurity issues associated with impersonation which continues to put patients at risk.
Mburu further advised KMTC to produce nurses who are comprehensively trained in midwifery, mental health and community health to make them competitive both locally and internationally.
They will also be required to ensure that specialisations are done at a higher National diploma level.
Nurses play a critical role in healthcare and are often the unsung heroes in healthcare facilities and emergency response.
They are often the first to detect health emergencies and work on the front lines of disease prevention and the delivery of primary health care, including promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.