The Defence College of Health Science (DCHS), based at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital held it’s inaugural candle lighting and graduation ceremony since the institution was adopted as a college of National Defence University Kenya (NDU-K) in 2021.
The momentous occasion took place at Ulinzi Sports Complex Langata, signifying the completion of nursing courses in different cohorts for 48 Medical graduates, among them 46 service members drawn from the three KDF services (Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and Kenya Navy) and 2 from National Intelligence Services. The nurses are set to graduate in the next NDU-K graduation ceremony.
Five students studied for a duration of 18 months and achieved a Higher Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery specialised in Anaesthesia, while 15 have attained a Higher Diploma in Critical Care Nursing (1year), 28 have studied for 3 years to qualify as Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing (KRCHN).
During the ceremony, the graduates participated in traditional candle lighting and oath-taking ceremonies which are customary in initiating the qualified nurses into the nursing cadre.
The DCHS curriculum saw students undergo clinical experience and community placements in various civilian hospitals, including Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral, Karen, Mathare National and Teaching referral, Pumwani, Mbagathi, Kihara and Wangige Sub-County Hospitals.
The Higher Diploma cohort also underwent a crucial 6-month mentorship program at several KDF hospitals, including Defence Forces Memorial Hospital, Nairobi, Isiolo and Eldoret Regional Hospitals and the Kenya Navy Hospital in Mtongwe. This program is a requisite by the Clinical Officers Council.
The critical care nurses are expected to be re-deployed in KDF hospitals with active Intensive Care Units (ICUs) even as the KRCHN cohort gets re-deployed to the KDF Medical Department and thereafter in various KDF units.
The NDU-K Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs Prof Ann Muigai acknowledged DCHS for running the program and the tremendous milestone attained. “I encourage all of you to put to use all the knowledge acquired during your courses and innovate where necessary,” she added.
In his closing remarks, the Director Medical Services Maj Gen (Dr.) George Ng’ang’a commended the highest standards achieved by the college expressing confidence that the graduates will provide the best healthcare services to their patients in their future deployments.
“I urge you to be compassionate, which is key in providing healthcare to your patients”, he reiterated, reminding the nurses to uphold the oath taken, reminding them to always safeguard patient’s privacy at all costs.
NDU-K Deputy Vice Chancellor Maj Gen William Shume (Research, Innovation and Security Studies), the Chief Executive Officer Nursing Council of Kenya Ann Mukuna are among other senior officers who attended the ceremony.
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