The Nurses and Midwives of 15 countries in the ECSA region received a vehicledonated by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on 11th February 2016. The Ford Ranger double cabin was initially used by the Human Resource Alliance for Africa (HRAA) project which came to an end on 30th September 2015. The project wasimplemented by ECSA Health Community as the prime partner working with other partners including Regional Center for Quality in Health Care (RCQHC), Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI), Jhpiego, and the Regional Network on Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET). At the close of HRAA, USAID, in recognition of the collaboration demonstrated during the life time of the project and long time working relationship between USAID and nurses and midwives in ECSA region through its professional body ECSACON,accepted the recommendation from ECSA Health Community to donate the vehicle to the College.
The handing over event took place on 11th February 2016 at the ECSA Health Community premises in Arusha, Tanzania, where the ECSACON Secretariat is housed. The Director General of ECSA Health Community, Prof. Yoswa Dambisya handed over the vehicle, on behalf of USAID, to the president of ECSACON, Mrs. Susan Otieno. During the handing over event, the Director General encouraged the nursing fraternity, through ECSACON, to make maximum use of the vehicle by revitalizing projectsaimedat reaching the hard to reach population with nursing and midwifery services.
While accepting the keys to the vehicle, the President of ECSACON reiterated the long-time commitment exercised by nurses and midwives in the region in advocating for availability of essential health services to the needy population in the marginalized and hard to reach areas.She also registered her appreciation to the American people through USAID and other US government agencies including Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) for dedicating support towards strengthening nursing and midwifery profession in Africa and ECSA region in particular. Mrs Otieno was accompanied by ECSACON members from Kenya Chapter, led by the Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Rosemary Kurya,
Director General of ECSA Health Community Prof. Yoswa Dambisya giving the key of the vehicle to the President of ECSACON Susan Otieno. Standing next to the car being donated is Alphonce Kalula who is the Senior Program Officer for ECSACON.
