New nursing graduates a ray of hope for war torn Eritrea

University Principal Sir Alan Langlands recently visited Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, for the graduation of the first cohort of nurses to earn the Bachelor of Nursing degree through study on a Distance Learning programme delivered by the University.

Sir Alan told the University's eighteen new graduates they represented an outstanding example of how partnership between the western world and Africa can effect real change.

"Earlier this year Scotland played host to the G8 Summit when many pledges were made by well off nations, including the UK, to the future of Africa," said Sir Alan.

"Some of those pledges may take a long and tortuous journey to translate into reality. This initiative we are here to celebrate today is real. It is now. And it is happening. It is the best kind of example of what can be achieved by simply sharing vital knowledge, experience and expertise between world neighbours.

"In its small but significant way it will alleviate suffering and improve health. This year you are 18 graduates - professionals in advanced nursing studies. If each of you helps spread this expertise throughout your country then the impact for Eritrea can be tremendous."

Eritrea is a poor country, still emerging from the impact of 30 years' bloody war with neighbouring Ethiopia. The students represented many branches of nursing and midwifery, including community and public health and also mental health. Some had been barefoot doctors in the war years.

The Distance Learning Centre in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing was contracted in June 2003 by the Ministry of Health in Eritrea with the prime objective of enabling senior Eritrean nurses to graduate in advanced nursing studies, thus bringing a greater level of much-needed expertise to the country. Despite the distance learning mode of delivery, the contract includes some face-to-face teaching, delivered in the capital city Asmara.

"All of the students were qualified nurse teachers and a secondary objective for the project has been the enhancement of nursing education overall in Eritrea, nurses being the most significant group of health care clinicians throughout a country which is predominantly rural," said Dr Elizabeth Rogerson, Head of the Distance Learning Centre (Nursing and Palliative Care), at the University of Dundee and Head of Education and Development for the International Virtual Nursing School (IVINURS).

"We are hoping now that these eighteen graduates will have the opportunity to progress on to our postgraduate Master of Nursing degree."

The success with the first cohort of nurses on the degree course has already resulted in the commencement of a second cohort of 34 nurses studying on the programme.