Musings From Abroad

Uganda to export about 3,000 nurses to UK, Middle East

Published

1 year ago

May 25, 2023

If all goes as planned, Uganda will soon be exporting skilled medical professionals to the United Kingdom. In view of that, a professional body, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) has said plans were on to send some of its members abroad.

President of UNMU, Justus Cherop revealed that about 3,000 well-skilled nurses who were not employed by the government worked abroad, amid plans by some labour companies in the country to send nurses to work in the United Kingdom and the Middle East.

“We have about 5,000 nurses graduating from institutions and universities every year. The government can absorb around 2,000 every financial year,” Cherop said.

“We are looking for labour export companies so that those who are not employed can find work abroad,” he added.

According to Cherop, in order to efficiently serve the populace and lower hospital fatalities, the nation needs to hire 55,000 nurses. He claimed that out of the 62,000 qualified nurses and midwives in Uganda, the government now employs 28,000.

The health industry in Uganda has advanced significantly over the past ten years. Male life expectancy at birth increased from 45.7 to 62.2 years, while female life expectancy increased from 50.5 to 66.7 years between 1991 and 2019.

Moreover, Uganda achieved one of the global MDG goals for child health from 1990 to 2015, but its health personnel are far from surplus, raising questions about the proposed exportation of medical staff.

Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

12 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

12 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.