RESOURCES
ZINA Advocacy Strategy
To emphasize the importance of nursing care globally, WHO proclaimed 2020 The International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. This came high on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic, which further emphasized the need to make nursing a priority around the world. The Covid-19 pandemic shifted Care in the workplace, and nurses have had to visualize and operationalize new processes rapidly. In Zimbabwe, the Covid 19 pandemic also came with its own challenges. While nurses were rising to the occasion and exhibiting amazing fortitude through tumultuous times, and continue to put their lives on the line while they care for others. The Government was not responsive in creating a conducive environment and working conditions for nurses. Eg provision of PPE It was then realized that nurses need leaders to advocate for their work conditions, safety, and welfare while they provide care under difficult conditions. Through the efforts of Osisa the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA), was given a grant to create opportunities for advocating for nurses rights which led to the development of the ZINA advocacy strategy which will lead the advocacy campaigns for workplace policies that promote better work conditions, safety, and welfare of nurses while they provide care under difficult conditions.
Zina Communication Strategy Plan
Advocacy is most important if not critical during change. Edwards (1993) says, “the aim (of advocacy) is to alter the ways in which power, resources, and ideas are created, consumed, so that people and organizations have a more realistic chance of controlling their own development”. However, in the context of ZINA, advocacy is also “a technique for expressing ideas effectively.” ZINA like any Professional organisations is tasked with the responsibility of protecting society by encouraging professional development and socialization. As a profession, nursing has a long history of engaging in advocacy to strengthen and advance the profession, patient care and outcomes, health systems, and public policy. Nursing organizations in particular, continue to serve as critical platforms for policy advocacy
In 1981 the Zimbabwe nursing profession chose to form an independent, professional nurses-only association (ZINA). Zina developed a political voice that could speak on behalf of the profession but also became entangled in their country’s political ideology at times. However, ZINA nevertheless managed to give nurses a voice in matters pertaining to their profession. Their endeavours resulted in Zimbabwean nursing obtaining professional independence in the form of an own governing body, Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ) in April 2001 under the health professions act (chapter 27:19)
ZINA Strategic Plan
ZiNA is the unified voice of Zimbabwean nursing — from Zambezi to Limpopo. We support students and nurses in the beginning stages of their careers, those who are working full and part-time, those who are retired, and those working in public and private institutions. No matter where you work, we’re determined to make nursing better — for nurses, for patients and for our public health systems.
Strategic Framework
In the process of developing and discussing the strategic framework, three goals have emerged as being at the heart and core to ZiNA’s activities. They epitomise ZiNA’s aspiration and purpose, representing the essence of what the organisation is about and the reason for its existence.
Strategic Plan 1
- Our Nurse
Ensure that nurses’ expertise, guidance and concerns
are top of mind with government leaders and key
decision-makers across Zimbabwe.