Trinity College of Health Sciences principal Godrick Chipondeponde has called on the Ministry of Health (MoH) to revive a government scholarship scheme to rescue students struggling to pay fees in medical colleges. 

He said this on Friday in Blantyre during the graduation of 182 students who completed courses in nursing and midwifery, public health and community development.    

Said Chipondeponde: “Most of the students come without any support. They just come to try their luck. Fortunately for Trinity College, we are in partnership with Gaia [Global Aids Interfaith Alliance]. So Gaia in their programme, in the first cohort they [supported] 20 students and in the second cohort they are going to [support] another 20.

“However, the figures are low. There are a lot of students that need support. We also have other partners like the Thom and Babra Foundation, who are also assisting us, but with a small figure.”

He said some of the needy students take longer to complete a course because of lack of support.. 

Chipondeponde said: “A lot of students need support. There are a lot of students who are dropping out. I gave an example of a student who has done the programme for seven years, not because the student repeated, no, but because the person is coming from a poor background.

“So, I am requesting the Ministry of Health to find alternatives. Probably they can resume the scholarships, especially those targeting the neediest students. I know there are some students, who can pay [fees], but there are other students that really have the passion for nursing, but they are failing to enrol because they do not have anyone to support them.

“So, if the government can have scholarships that target the neediest students, that will help us.”

MoH deputy director responsible for training Emily Gama urged the graduands to be exemplary in their conduct and professionalism.

“You have to be exemplary as you work in different organisations, hospitals, in all areas. Do not copy the behaviours out there that do not depict the ethics of your respective professions under the programmes of study,” she said. 

One of the graduands, Gladys Likweta, who graduated with a diploma in nursing and midwifery, said she is ready to provide her services to the people and the community. 

Out of the 182 students, 158 pursued a diploma course in nursing and midwifery, 18 did public health while six graduated with a diploma in community development. 

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