Government Warns Nursing Applicants Against Paying Bribes for Training Places

By Staff Reporter

The Government has warned aspiring nurses against paying money to individuals claiming they can secure places in nursing training institutions, amid reports of alleged corruption surrounding the recruitment process.

Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini said nursing recruitment is conducted free of charge and applicants should report anyone demanding payment in exchange for a training place.

Kwidini issued the warning in Victoria Falls on Monday, saying the Ministry had received reports of people allegedly demanding money from applicants desperate to secure places in nursing training programmes.

“We are here today to alert our own citizens as the Ministry of Health and Child Care. We advertised nursing recruitment, but we have heard so many reports of people who are making people pay for the nursing recruitment,” Kwidini said.

He stressed that applicants are not required to pay any money to the Ministry to be recruited.

“But let me be clear on this one. The Ministry of Health and Child Care does not make people pay for the recruitment,” he said.

Kwidini urged applicants to reject claims by so-called recruiters who promise to secure nursing places in return for money.

“So, definitely, if one is being called by the so-called recruiters, saying we want to give you a place, report them to the police,” he said.

The Ministry has decentralised the nursing recruitment process to provincial and district levels, which Kwidini said was intended to improve transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption.

“Because what we know is the Ministry does not charge for recruitment. It’s totally free. That is why we have decentralised nursing recruitment to districts and provinces across the country. We want to address this corruption whereby people are made to pay to be recruited,” he said.

The Deputy Minister also warned that Ministry employees found involved in bribery or recruitment-related misconduct could face dismissal.

Applicants were urged to follow only the requirements contained in official recruitment advertisements and to report anyone demanding money or claiming to have influence over the selection process.

“Don’t ever be defrauded by individuals demanding to be paid, purporting to have secured a place for you. What you just need to do is to meet the requirements stated in the advert for the recruitment,” Kwidini said.

The warning comes as competition for nursing training places remains high, with large numbers of applicants seeking limited opportunities. The Ministry's position is that recruitment is free and that applicants should not pay individuals claiming to have access to the selection process.
Source: Online