By Judith Matanire
The Avenues Clinic is investing approximately US$200,000 annually in postgraduate nursing education as it expands its specialist training programmes, with 347 nurses trained over the years in Intensive Care and Operating Theatre Nursing.
The institution graduated 38 specialist nurses at its 23rd graduation ceremony, marking another milestone in its contribution to developing Zimbabwe’s specialist healthcare workforce.
The graduating class comprised 19 Intensive Care Nursing and 19 Operating Theatre Nursing graduates drawn from healthcare institutions across the country.
The Avenues Clinic Managing Director, Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu, said the institution had trained 185 Intensive Care Nurses and 162 Operating Theatre Nurses, reflecting its longstanding investment in specialist nursing education.
She said the introduction of Oncology and Palliative Care Nursing in 2026 marked a further expansion of the clinic’s training portfolio in response to emerging healthcare needs.
“This year we added the Oncology and Palliative Care post-basic specialist nurse training,” Ndhlovu said.
She said the clinic’s commitment to nursing education extended beyond academic qualifications to strengthening clinical competencies and improving the quality of healthcare delivery.
The institution’s annual investment supports postgraduate training, while partnerships with the University of Zimbabwe and government health institutions provide opportunities for clinical exposure and professional development.
Ndhlovu said the clinic remained committed to advancing healthcare through investment in human resources, infrastructure, medical equipment and collaboration with other institutions.
Principal Nursing Officer Florence Ogwal said the expansion into oncology and palliative care was particularly important as Zimbabwe continued to respond to the growing demand for specialised cancer care and support services.
She said the healthcare system required specialist nurses capable of managing increasingly complex medical conditions, from critical and coronary care to cancer treatment and palliative support.
“Zimbabwe needs specialist nurses across the continuum of care. We need theatre nurses who can support increasingly complex surgical procedures. We need intensive care and coronary care nurses who can recognise deterioration early and intervene when every second matters,” Ogwal said.
She added that oncology nurses played an important role in guiding patients through cancer treatment, while palliative care nurses provided comfort, dignity and compassionate support to patients and their families.
Ogwal said the new programmes represented more than an expansion of academic offerings, describing them as an investment in better cancer care, improved patient experiences and stronger healthcare delivery.
The clinic has also renewed its request for approval to introduce General Nursing training at diploma level, a move that would expand its contribution beyond postgraduate specialist programmes.
Ogwal said the institution was prepared to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe and public-sector training institutions to meet the necessary requirements and establish collaborative training arrangements.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora welcomed the contribution of private healthcare institutions to nursing education, saying Government was looking at progressively opening up nurse training to the private sector.
He said the proposed expansion would be guided by evaluations of the existing pilot programme at the Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa School of Nursing in Kadoma.
Mombeshora also commended The Avenues Clinic for its contribution to specialist nursing education, noting that the institution had strengthened the country’s nursing workforce through its longstanding training programmes.
Meanwhile, he said Cabinet had resolved that all healthcare institutions, including private providers, should submit health statistics, service delivery information and relevant performance data through the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The move is intended to ensure that the contribution of public, private and faith-based healthcare institutions is adequately captured in national health reporting systems.
For The Avenues Clinic, however, the expansion of its nursing school reflects a broader commitment to building local specialist capacity and ensuring that Zimbabwe’s healthcare system has skilled professionals equipped to meet the needs of patients.
