BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AS the Ministry of Health is working to figure out the correct formula to get more nurses on stream in St. Kitts, having more men involved in the profession is a stigma they are seeking to fix.
In the Federation, it is believed that less than one percent of the nurse force is men, an, as they seek to employ more of them in the field, a stigma is causing its limitation.
Internationally, the World Health Organsation noted that 10 percent of the global population of nurses are males, an area they hope would increase.
Health officials in Basseterre are seeking to highlight the importance of males in the field and educate the society that the profession is not only for females; it is inclusive.
Health Minister Akilah Byron-Nisbett recently revealed that they would shortly launch a new campaign geared towards hiring new nurses.
According to the Minister, as part of their drive to educate the public and remove the stigma attached to the profession, more educational testimonials would be shared from males currently in the field.
“So, it is how do we launch a campaign that can change a decade of stigma for me to enter nursing,” revealed Minister Byron.
Currently, the Federation has more than 150 nurses and only a few of them are men. But there is growing concern about the shortage of nurses in the country and that problem was exacerbated during the 2020-2022 COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Health is now seeking to clear the air on what is causing the problem, with the Minister brushing off suggestions that remuneration might be the problem.
She told SKNVIbes News that “the salary structure for all levels of nurses was revised in 2019-2020”.
“Right now, as it is, the nurses are receiving the highest remuneration within the public service system. Nurses who successfully completed their degree, pass their licensure exam and all the regional examinations are now being remunerated at the degree scale at K83 and higher,” the Minister noted.
