HARARE — The Avenues Clinic is investing US$200,000 annually in postgraduate nursing education, as the institution continues to expand specialist training programmes aimed at strengthening Zimbabwe’s healthcare workforce.
The hospital graduated 38 specialist nurses at its 23rd graduation ceremony this afternoon, comprising 19 Intensive Care Nurses and 19 Operating Theatre Nurses drawn from central, district, private and mission hospitals across the country.
The clinic has trained a total of 347 specialist nurses since establishing its postgraduate nursing school, including 185 Intensive Care Nurses and 162 Operating Theatre Nurses.
The institution’s Managing Director, Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu, highlighted the hospital’s annual US$200,000 contribution to postgraduate nursing education, alongside investments in medical equipment, infrastructure and clinical training.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Principal Tutor Sophia Paso said the institution began training intensive care nurses in 1998 before introducing operating theatre nursing the following year.
She said the latest graduating class comprised three groups that had undergone specialist training between 2024 and 2025.
The January 2024 intake, comprising five Intensive Care Nurses and five Operating Theatre Nurses, recorded a 100 percent pass rate in their state final examinations.
Similarly, the July 2024 to June 2025 group, which included eight Intensive and Coronary Care Nurses and eight Operating Theatre Nurses, achieved a 100 percent pass rate.
However, the January 2025 group experienced challenges, with only one of the six Intensive Care Nursing students passing the initial state final examinations, representing a 16.7 percent pass rate.
All six Operating Theatre Nursing students from the same group passed their examinations.
Paso said the poor intensive care nursing results prompted an internal review of the school’s teaching and learning processes.
“This came as a shocker and a wakeup call to the teaching team and students who did a root cause analysis,” she said.
“The problem was identified and corrective measures implemented which saw all the five candidates passing” their supplementary examinations.
She said the experience demonstrated the importance of continuous assessment, evaluation and corrective action in maintaining nursing education standards.
Meanwhile, The Avenues Clinic has expanded its postgraduate training programmes to include Oncology and Palliative Care Nursing, which commenced in January 2026 following approval from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe.
Principal Nursing Officer Florence Ogwal said the expansion was intended to respond to the country’s changing healthcare needs, particularly the growing demand for specialised cancer treatment and end-of-life care.
“By strengthening local capacity, we can help more patients receive care close to home, with the support of their loved ones,” Ogwal said.
She said the increasing complexity of medical procedures and advances in healthcare technology required continuous investment in specialist nursing skills.
The institution also provides subsidised training opportunities for nurses employed at government health facilities.
Its training partnerships include clinical attachments for University of Zimbabwe nursing students and collaboration with Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in supporting open-heart surgery services and nursing attachments.
Ndhlovu highlighted ongoing infrastructure improvements at the hospital, including the refurbishment of medical and surgical wards, maternity facilities, intensive care, high-dependency and coronary care units.
The clinic has also renewed its request for Government approval to offer General Nursing Diploma training, seeking to expand beyond its existing postgraduate programmes.
Ogwal said the institution was prepared to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe and public-sector institutions to meet the required training standards.
“We respectfully renew our request for approval for The Avenues Clinic to train General Nurses,” she said.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who officiated at the graduation, said Government intended to progressively expand private-sector participation in general nursing training.
However, he said the process would be guided by evaluations of the ongoing pilot programme at the Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa School of Nursing in Kadoma.
“The Ministry’s intention is to progressively open up private sector participation in nurse training beyond the current pilot project being undertaken at the Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa School of Nursing in Kadoma,” Mombeshora said.
He commended The Avenues Clinic for its contribution to nursing education and urged healthcare institutions to continue investing in specialist skills, particularly in critical care, oncology, emergency medicine and neonatal care.
Paso thanked Medical Investments Limited management for its continued support of the nursing school, including during difficult periods.
The ceremony was attended by senior Government officials, nursing regulators, healthcare professionals and Cimas Health Group Chief Executive Officer Vuli Ndlovu.
