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AUSTRALIA: RECRUITMENT OF ZIMBABWE NURSES SUSPENDED November 20, 2006
Zainab Osman
(SomaliNet) A Zimbabwean couple has triggered the suspension of all registrations of Zimbabwean nurses in Australia.
Hundreds of Zimbabwean nurses already in Australia face a tense week ahead as authorities go through their papers after a nurse was found with forged papers and suspended from direct care. Checks are being done for 88 nurses and midwives from Zimbabwe registered in South Australia.
It emerged last night that the crisis was sparked by a Zimbabwean couple after a man who failed three medical checks decided to shop his wife who was already in Australia, claiming she possessed fake papers.
The man who had been refused entry to Australia told the Zimbabwean nursing board that his wife, who is based in Townsville, Queensland, had faked signatures and other related papers to gain entry into Australia.
The latest checks will affect thousands of Zimbabwean health professionals in Australia who deserted their country's failing health service in search of better pay and work conditions.