AAH-I-run Maridi School of Nursing & Midwifery reviews next strategic plan
The Maridi School of Nursing and Midwifery (MSNM) has made a final review on its 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. The review was held between 24 and 27 October 2018. It was a participatory process facilitated by Action Africa Help International (AAH-I) and involved the School’s management board, staff, the Ministry of Health and partner organizations.
Building on review findings, gains and lessons from the preceding Strategic Plan, this new strategic direction will support a coordinated and consultative approach in the management of the school. It provides specific timelines within which the activities are to be completed and outlines strategies and activities for resource mobilization, utilization, monitoring and evaluation and reporting. The plan also considered the changing operating environment in South Sudan, the Sustainable Development Goals, the South Sudan Health Agenda and the need for skilled health workers in the country.
Learning session during the meeting
Established in the 1960s by the Government of South Sudan, MSNM is a tertiary level education facility whose core responsibility has been to train competent health care personnel in community nursing and midwifery. To augment health service provision at grassroots level, it has also trained Community Health Workers, enrolled nurses and midwives. Trainees MSNM use Maridi County Hospital for practical lessons.
The School has a Board of Governors which meets at least three times in a year to give policy direction and provides oversight on management. AAH-I provides technical support through staffing and funding for various activities. The Principal with his team manage the School programmes with administrative support from AAH-I. Since 1993, AAH-I has to provide learning materials, human resource and administrative support to the school, in addition to providing support for staff, student sponsorship and medical equipment. The Government of South Sudan and various donors have supported the construction and improvement of infrastructure, supply of equipment and drugs and maintenance of staff.
MSNM offers two 3-year Diploma courses in Nursing and in Midwifery. The current enrolment stands at 82 students (56 male and 26 female) having successfully graduated 37 registered nurses in September 2018. Bread for the World funds the training of 40 students every year for the two courses. This will continue up to 2020 by which time four cohorts will have graduated with either a Diploma in Nursing or in Midwifery.