Martin Endjala
The Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA), has warned aspiring health professionals not to enrol in courses offered by the Divine Health Institute.
The HPCNA stated that the institute’s courses have not received approval.
The HPCNA established the Divine Health Institute, which has been inviting candidates to enrol in several courses, including nursing, pharmacy, and emergency care.
“The HPCNA hereby warns the public that none of the courses in nursing, pharmacy, or emergency care being offered by Divine Health Institute have been approved by the HPCNA,” read the public notice.
According to the HPCNA, graduates from the institution will have access to patients for practical training.
“No holder of a qualification in such fields from the same institution will be allowed to practice a healthcare profession in Namibia,” said HPCNA.
According to the HPCNA, offering and providing education, tuition, and training in the healthcare industry without the HPCNA’s prior written approval is illegal and requires reporting to the closest police station for a criminal investigation.
The public is urged to report institutions offering health courses without their approval.
Last year, the Nursing Training Institute of Technology (NTIT) was forced to close its doors in Rundu and Divundu after operating only for one year, following complaints that its courses were not accredited.
Later, they received recognition and are currently offering courses in Windhoek and Ongwediva.
In May, the registrar at HPCNA, Cornelius Weyulu, advised institutions that want to train nurses to apply for approval and submit their curriculums to the council.
“Only when you have received written approval can you start training students, and those students, as a practice, will have to be registered with the council as student nurses from year one until they are done,” he said.
Once the students are done, their certificate will be recognised by the nursing council, and they will be able to practice.
