The Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates President Austin Oduor @gacopa
together with the leadership of the Zimbabwe Clinical Officers Association visited the Parliament of Zimbabwe where they held a consultative engagement with the committee of Health of Parliament of Zimbabwe .
The Committee that was chaired by Hon Ruth Labode acknowledged the presence of GACOPA and its work across the globe praising the work done by Clinical Officers across board .
The committee acknowledged the need to have the training of clinical Officers reintroduced and the need to have more of the cadre in Zimbabwe . She said this will ensure effective management of emergencies at the rural areas and effective referral.
On his part the President of GACOPA Austin Oduor who was also accompanied by the Vice President of the Nigerian Society of Community Health practitioners stressed on the ned for parliament to enact or amend the health act to have the clinical Officers act in the law as this will give them the necessary backing by law .
“Clinical Officers in Zimbabwe need to have the necessary parliamentary backing as their role in both PHC and UHC together with vision 2030 is something that we cant ignore.They are found literally in majority of the countries in the world and with a specific role , i am therefore asking parliament to not only help in the legislation but also this will lead to the establishment of a regulatory body , a scope of practice and incorporation in the government system, ” Oduor added
Also present was the Leadership of the Clinical Officers Association of Zimbabwe led by Mr Estimate Katumha who thanked GACOPA and parliament of Zimbabwe for accepting to hold such an important meeting .
Clinical Officers training in Zimbabwe began in 1975 at the Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo and that time the entry requirements was that of a nurse with five years experience in midwifery could undergo a two year intensive training and with the program currently stopped , the Clinical Officers Association of Zimbabwe is engaging both parliament and Health Ministry to revive the training
The GACOPA President the
n later on held another meeting with the Zimbabwe Parliament Deputy Speaker Hon Tsitsi Gezi at the parliament buildings and a fruitful discussion that its primary aim was to have the clinical officers anchored in the primary Health care system of Zimbabwe