The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) have recently agreed to provide the support required to prepare the national competent cadres for serving the country’s health sector.
Both sides have also agreed to enhance their cooperation in terms of providing nursing scholarships for national students and supporting those enrolled in studying the “Emergency Medicine” program as part of “Masar”, as well as bolstering the HCT’s orientation to open Health Sciences Program in its branch in Ras Al Khaimah.
This comes as part of the Emiratization strategy in professional positions and to foster MoHAP’s efforts in promoting the attractiveness of the nursing profession, as well as to stimulate national students to engage in studying nursing through the country’s accredited universities and colleges.
This came during a meeting held at MoHAP Training & Development Center in Sharjah between HE. Dr. Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Support Services Sector, MoHAP, and HE Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi, HCT President & CEO, in the presence of Dr. Sumaya Al Balushi, Director of Nursing Department, MoHAP.
The two sides have agreed to cooperate for five years, to be renewed automatically, by forming a joint committee to follow up on the proper implementation of this cooperation.
MoHAP shall provide tuition fees and a monthly salary for a year to scholarship students, in addition to offering hands-on training opportunities for national students, providing job opportunities after graduation, and participating in applied research.
The cooperation also includes organizing conferences, symposiums, and training programs, especially the events that showcase the latest developments and best practices in areas of common interest.
Building National Nursing Cadres
Speaking on the agreement, HE Awad Saghir Al Ketbi said: “MoHAP is committed to raising community awareness about the importance of the nursing profession, enhancing the nursing positive image, and building the national nursing cadres. This will help provide integrated and high-quality healthcare and bolster the national initiative ‘Promoting the Nursing Profession Attractiveness’.”
“To that end, we are developing certain programs to increase the number of qualified national nursing cadres in coordination with educational bodies, health authorities, media platforms, and the relevant authorities of Emiratization and human resources development,” added Al Ketbi.
In turn, HE Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi expressed his happiness with the cooperation with MoHAP to help prepare the Emirati competencies for studying nursing and emergency medicine disciplines. This would help enhance the presence of highly-qualified Emirati cadres to work in health sector-related important and vital jobs.
Al Shamsi highlighted the importance of such cooperation to bolster Emiratization which is one of the HCT’s strategic priorities as part of the “Fourth Generation” plan, which aims at preparing students, providing them with the professional skills and highest levels of hands-on training to be “leaders in their specialties”, while focusing on the country’s vital sectors disciplines.
He further said: “This cooperation will provide the support for the students studying nursing as part of the Health Sciences Program in Sharjah and Fujairah, and for those studying Emergency Medicines at HCT branches in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, who will be graduating as emergency medical technicians to cater for the needs of this vital sector.”
Al Shamsi noted that this cooperation would help bolster the HCT’s orientation in terms of opening the Health Sciences Program at the HCT branch in Ras Al Khaimah.
Scholarships, Training and Job Opportunities
For her part, Dr. Sumaya Al Balushi said: “MoHAP has spared no efforts to cooperate and coordinate with local universities with the aim of increasing the number of scholarship students who are looking to study nursing. MoHAP then will undertake the rehabilitation of those students through MoHAP’s hospitals and health centers, in addition to securing jobs for them after graduation.”