INTRODUCTION Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery is found in Jinja district, located in the Eastern Region of Uganda. Jinja District is bordered by Iganga District to the East, Kamuli District to the North, Mukono District to the West and Lake Victoria to the South. BACKGROUND TO JINJA SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY Jinja School of Nursing started in 1954 in line with Government Policy of training health workers to address promotive, preventive, rehabilitative as well as curative care in Ugandan communities. It is located in the Eastern Region of Uganda, Jinja district, Jinja West, Central Division on Clive Road.
Over view of the Education Sector Strategic Plan The Education Sector Strategic Plan (2004-2015) puts emphasis on the need to help students in institutions of learning to acquire competencies they need to join the workforce and continue their education. To this end, particular emphasis is put on curriculum revision and improvements in instruction and assessment, efficient use of resources, and the need to reconfigure post primary sector, Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) on qualifications framework. The core emphasis to the Ministry of education is the need to have education institutions that are relevant to Uganda’s national development goals. The other emphasis of the Education Sector Strategic Plan is to help students in achieving education goal of participating in democracy, better welfare and health and a workforce comprised of competent professionals. Continued training of Nurses as highlighted in the strategic plan therefore squarely fits into the goals and objectives of the Education Sector Strategic Plan. Overview of the Health Sector Strategic Plan According to the Health Sector Strategic Plan 2 (HSSP2 2005/6-2009/2010), the Ministry of Health noted that reforms in the health sector pose serious challenges to human resource training, deployment and management. The Strategic Plan is an attempt to support and ensure strengthened coordination between the Ministry of education and that of health and availability of trained human resources for health. It further recognizes that availability of trained health workers is one of the most critical limiting factors to the delivery of the minimum health care package. The current human resource base is also constrained by unequal distribution and inappropriate skill mix. The Human Resources for Health inventory indicate that 65 Government HCIIs were not staffed at all and yet the capacities for training remain insufficient to meet the human resource needs of the health sector. The largest capacity for Nurse training is in the PNFP sector. Health Sector Strategic Plan 2 also sets out to increase the number of schools training ECN. The Health Sector Strategic plan commits government to increase the availability of trained and motivated staff that are equitably distributed through out the country and who will contribute to the effective delivery of the Uganda National Minimum Health Care Package. Establishment of Jinja School of Nursing: Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery started in 1954. It was started by the Government of Uganda for training enrolled nurses and enrolled midwives in line with Government Policy of promoting preventive, rehabilitative as well as curative care in Ugandan Communities. However, with the Government policy of phasing out Enrolled Nurses and Enrolled Midwives, the school has expanded the curriculum to train Registered Pediatric Nursing and Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing. Ownership: Jinja School of Nursing is a public health training institution owned by the Government of Uganda and managed under the Ministry of Education and Sports. Mandate: The mandate of the school is to train multi skilled nurses and midwives who are able to deliver a comprehensive health care package at national, regional and community level. Purpose and Process of Developing the Strategic Plan This Strategic Plan of Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery covers the years 2007-2012. The Strategic Plan clearly spells out all that the school plans to do in the next five years. The plan has seven purposes To guide the school in its regular/annual planning and budgeting exercise To enhance coordination of school activities and also enable the school to have a clear direction in its endeavor to carry out its mandate. To help the school negotiates with Government and other development partners on critical areas that require financial and technical support. To facilitate commitment and enhance a sense of responsibility among the various actors/stakeholders in achieving the desired goals To enhance coordination, a cordial and resourceful working relationship between the school and its stakeholders To enable the development and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system BASELINE INFORMATION Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery uses a number of resources and infrastructure in order to accomplish its programmes. Human Resource The school is equipped with teaching and non teaching staff that supports implementation of activities at the school. The table below shows categories the different staffing levels at the school; 
Infrastructure
The infrastructure at the school is largely over stretched by the increasing enrollment over the years. The table below highlights the existing infrastructure; 
Student numbers by Course At the time of preparing this Strategic Plan, Student population stood at 523 of whom 135 were pursuing registered nursing, 111 were for registered midwifery, 263 were for Enrolled comprehensive nursing and 14 were for pediatrics nursing. Thus there is a mismatch between student population and infrastructure. Academic Programmes The school runs two year certificate courses with two semesters for each year. The school admits direct entrants from senior six but has also introduced a programme for nurses who wish to upgrade in Comprehensive nursing. As at 2006, the school has been running four academic programmes which are listed hereunder: Registered Nursing Registered Midwifery Registered pediatric nursing Enrolled comprehensive nursing Non Academic Programmes Besides the academic programmes, the school also runs extra curricula programmes like music, dance and drama, games and sports as a package for the non academic programmes. Sources of funding The main source of funding for the institution is the Government of Uganda through grants from the Ministry of education and Sports. However, with the policy of private students’ sponsorship scheme, the school is able to internally generate revenue through school fees contributions. Vision The vision of the school is: An excellent training institution in nursing, midwifery and pediatric nursing Mission statement The mission of the school is: To train multi skilled nurses who are able to deliver a comprehensive and holistic health care package that promotes healthy and productive lives Core Values Jinja school of Nursing and Midwifery is driven by the following values: Competence The school shall demonstrate competence and professionalism in the accomplishment of its mandate. Training shall be conducted at the highest level of professional standards and the human resource shall exercise professionalism in all their undertakings. Commitment The school staff shall work together with a high sense of team spirit and demonstrate ethical standards in dealing with the stakeholders and public to achieve a common objective. Discipline The school will ensure strict adherence to discipline in all its operations by all the parties involved. Transparency In all ways, the school shall be open, telling the truth, ensuring that the resources (funds, equipment, and time) are utilized effectively and efficiently in the interest of the school. All the school staff are expected to be truthful, reliable, and accountable for their actions. Responsibility Accountability shall underpin the approach of all Governing Council members, management and support staff to their duties and responsibilities. Self motivation The school shall institute a culture of impetus among staff in conducting the different activities to ensure attainment of the desired goal. Goal: The goal of Jinja school of Nursing and Midwifery is to: Improve on the quality of training and management capacity of the institution Link between PCOS objectives and National Goals: The goal and objectives of Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery are in consonance with the two goals of the Education Sector Strategic Plan (2004-2015), which provide a comprehensive direction. They are: An education system which is relevant to Uganda’s national development goals Students achieving education goals An effective and efficient education sector. Strategic Way Forward Overall Goal: The goal of Jinja School of nursing and midwifery is to improve the quality of training and management capacity of the institution and its mission is to train multi skilled nurses who are able to deliver a comprehensive health care package that promotes healthy and productive lives. In pursuit of this Mission, Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery will work to achieve the following 12 strategic objectives during the next five years: Strategic Objectives Strategic Objective: 1. Strengthen the staffing position of the school The strategies designed to ensure that the above objective is realized include; Lobby for staff appointment and promotion Improve on the teaching and learning materials in the school Build Capacity of Staff in Consultancy Strategic objective 2: Improve existing infrastructure and education support System The strategies designed to ensure that the above objective is realized include; Establish ICTs Renovate existing infrastructure Equip the school with education support materials Equip the school with sufficient transport facilities Maximize available land by building strayed buildings Construct a canteen Construct walk ways Strategic Objective 3: Strengthen Financial Support Systems and widen income base) The strategies designed to ensure that the above objective is realized include; Establish income generating activities Establish supportive association Strengthen the existing financial support system Write project proposals Strategic Objective 4: Strengthen Administration, Supervision and Disciplinary mechanisms in the school The strategies designed to ensure that the above objective is realized include; Improve supervisory mechanisms in place Operationalize the disciplinary organs Strengthen the existing academic programmes Establish new courses Introduce and promote research skills Establish educational exchange programs Link closely with hospitals and healthy centers Improve administrative and management systems of the school Strategic Objective 5: Strengthen School-Community Health Programme. The strategies designed to ensure that the above objective is realized include; Develop and implement a school-community based programme Develop capacity in teaching the community |
