The Kenya Women Finance Trust Deposit Taking Microfinance Limited (KWFT‐DTM) has
partnered with AMREF and Johnson and Johnson to make eLearning Nurse upgrading program
affordable. The programme that enables Nurses upgrade from Enrolled Nurses (ECHN) to
Registered Nurses (RN) was launched 5 yrs ago jointly by NCK (Nursing council of Kenya), MOH
and AMREF and is offered in 110 fully equipped eLearning centers across the country.The
program uses modular blended learning approach which combines eLearning with face‐to‐face
sessions, clinical experience and written exams at the end of each module. The eLearning
program was born from the Ministry of health and Nursing Council of Kenya’s desire to improve
the standards of nursing care by equipping enrolled nurses with the skills to manage new and
re‐emerging diseases and to improve the health of Women and Children in Kenya.
In 2004, 85% of Kenya’s nurses were Enrolled Nurses (ECHNs), who do not possess the skills to
manage the major health problems including HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and other communicable
diseases. ECHNs also lack skills and knowledge in nursing research, leadership and
management. Registered Nurses have the skills but are too few to make significant impact in
the fight against preventable, treatable and not‐treatable diseases which compound the
poverty situation in Kenya. In 2002, Nursing Council of Kenya and Ministry of Medical Services
agreed that all 22,000 enrolled nurses in Kenya need to be upgraded to registered status. At the
time, Kenya could upgrade only 100 Enrolled Nurses (ENs) to Registered Nurses (RNs) annually
using traditional classroom methods. Clearly a different approach was required to rapidly and
cost‐effectively up‐skill the nurses.
The AMREF Virtual Learning School (AVNS) was set up in 2007 and is one of the 34 schools
offering the eLearning Nurse Upgrading Programme. AVNS is located at AMREF International
Training Centre on Langata Road. The AMREF Virtual Nursing School was set up to provide
nurses with increased access to quality nursing education thus improving healthcare. AVNS has
a current capacity of up to 60 students per intake. Intakes are in March and September each
year.
Although eLearning reduced the overall cost of nurse training by eliminating large cost
elements such as boarding, transportation, and lost wages, a survey conducted in April 2009 by
AMREF, Nurses Council of Kenya and Ministry of Medical Services indicated that out of the
students who are yet to enroll into the programme, 74% indicate that the reason they have not
enrolled is lack of school fees.
KWFT which has a countrywide network of 215 offices offers the Unsecured Financing covering
tuition fee per module for applicants accepted into the eLearning programme. Successful
applicants receive admission letters which they then use to apply for permission to join the
course from their employer. This admission letter is also used when nurses apply for the loan
from KWFT. The Customized, unsecured and affordable financing is open to both employed and
unemployed nurses through a tailored structure that enables them repay the loan with ease.
The students have the privilege to train as they work at the eLearning centers close to them.
The modular program also allows Nurses upgrade at their own pace and convenience with
flexible eLearning resources. The students are examined and certified by the Nursing Council of
Kenya.
Ends
By KWFT‐DTM
Contact Tel +254 20 2715354 email:
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The Kenya Women Finance Trust Deposit Taking Microfinance Limited (KWFT‐DTM) has
partnered with AMREF and Johnson and Johnson to make eLearning Nurse upgrading program
affordable. The programme that enables Nurses upgrade from Enrolled Nurses (ECHN) to
Registered Nurses (RN) was launched 5 yrs ago jointly by NCK (Nursing council of Kenya), MOH
and AMREF and is offered in 110 fully equipped eLearning centers across the country.The
program uses modular blended learning approach which combines eLearning with face‐to‐face
sessions, clinical experience and written exams at the end of each module. The eLearning
program was born from the Ministry of health and Nursing Council of Kenya’s desire to improve
the standards of nursing care by equipping enrolled nurses with the skills to manage new and
re‐emerging diseases and to improve the health of Women and Children in Kenya.
In 2004, 85% of Kenya’s nurses were Enrolled Nurses (ECHNs), who do not possess the skills tomanage the major health problems including HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and other communicablediseases. ECHNs also lack skills and knowledge in nursing research, leadership andmanagement. Registered Nurses have the skills but are too few to make significant impact inthe fight against preventable, treatable and not‐treatable diseases which compound the poverty situation in Kenya. In 2002, Nursing Council of Kenya and Ministry of Medical Servicesagreed that all 22,000 enrolled nurses in Kenya need to be upgraded to registered status. At the time, Kenya could upgrade only 100 Enrolled Nurses (ENs) to Registered Nurses (RNs) annually using traditional classroom methods. Clearly a different approach was required to rapidly andcost‐effectively up‐skill the nurses.
The AMREF Virtual Learning School (AVNS) was set up in 2007 and is one of the 34 schools
offering the eLearning Nurse Upgrading Programme. AVNS is located at AMREF International
Training Centre on Langata Road. The AMREF Virtual Nursing School was set up to provide
nurses with increased access to quality nursing education thus improving healthcare. AVNS has
a current capacity of up to 60 students per intake. Intakes are in March and September each
year.
Although eLearning reduced the overall cost of nurse training by eliminating large cost
elements such as boarding, transportation, and lost wages, a survey conducted in April 2009 by
AMREF, Nurses Council of Kenya and Ministry of Medical Services indicated that out of the
students who are yet to enroll into the programme, 74% indicate that the reason they have not
enrolled is lack of school fees.
KWFT which has a countrywide network of 215 offices offers the Unsecured Financing covering
tuition fee per module for applicants accepted into the eLearning programme. Successful
applicants receive admission letters which they then use to apply for permission to join the
course from their employer. This admission letter is also used when nurses apply for the loan
from KWFT. The Customized, unsecured and affordable financing is open to both employed and
unemployed nurses through a tailored structure that enables them repay the loan with ease.
The students have the privilege to train as they work at the eLearning centers close to them.
The modular program also allows Nurses upgrade at their own pace and convenience with
flexible eLearning resources. The students are examined and certified by the Nursing Council of
Kenya.
