BUJUMBURA September 2nd (ABP) – Paramedical schools will be closed down in Burundi to comply with the standards of the East African Community (EAC), said the Minister of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS, Dr. Thaddée Ndikumana during a session of oral questions addressed to him by the MPs.
Dr. Ndikumana reported that the number of holders of A3 and A2 education levels who are unemployed is 13,000. He added that according to EAC standards, a nurse must have a Bachelor’s degree, such as the one awarded to the laureates of the National Institute of Public Health (INSP). The ministry wants the A3 level laureates to improve their level of education.
Dr. Ndikumana noted that the upcoming school year is the last promotion for paramedical A2 education level, and the paramedical directors are aware of the ministry’s decision to recommend that they add the next higher level to allow the laureates to be competitive in the sub-region.
He also said that public and private paramedical schools that will not be able to implement that recommendation will be transformed into professional health schools to train support staff such as emergency medical doctors, paramedics, caregivers, and so on.
Medical departments that are not going to be transformed into universities or health institutes will train the personnel that the ministry needs, like radiologists. He also pointed out that in vocational schools, the traditional medicine sector could exist to train traditional health personnel.
