For a long time confronted with a shortage of Health professionals in the professional environment, Morocco today takes significant measures to improve the health and safety of workers. In a circular addressed to directors of the higher institutes of the nursing and health techniques (ISPITS), the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has announced the creation of a new license sector entitled “nurse in health and safety at work”.
This initiative is fully part of the reform of the national health system, in support of the provisions of law n ° 09-22 relating to health function, in particular its article 6, which guarantees the protection of health professionals against risks and diseases linked to their activity.
Through a participatory approach, the ministry has requested the ISPITS to contribute to the development of the skills framework, the description of the option, as well as the training logram, in order to guarantee the success of this new sector in response to the growing needs of the sector.
This new sector is involved at a crucial moment, while Morocco suffers from a persistent shortage of occupational physicians and health specialized in work, professionals responsible for monitoring health and safety at workplace.
Indeed, although the labor code and regulatory texts, such as decree n ° 2-04-569 of December 29, 2004, impose the implementation of an infirmary in each company, with at least one specialized nurse to ensure the health and safety of workers, many companies are struggling to comply with this legal obligation. A reality that involves workers’ health protection, but also prevention of work accidents or occupational diseases.
Besides, the occupational health nurse is not limited to providing immediate care. Its role is part of a global prevention approach, which is a key lever for the economic performance and the well-being of workers, as Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, doctor and expert in health policies underlines.
In detail, the labor nurse supports workers in the event of an accident or illness, facilitates their return to work, monitors their state of health, and assesses working conditions, in particular in terms of ergonomics and professional risks. The objective is twofold: protect the health of workers and prevent professional risks, whether accidents or labor -related diseases. According to Dr. Hamdi, this mission has significant benefits for both the employee and for the company, by limiting absenteeism, by reducing presentism, and preserving the overall productivity of the company.
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However, the creation of a new training sector for occupational health and safety nurses alone is not enough to promote the health of employees. According to Dr. Hamdi, this measure must be coupled with a strategy of concrete valuation of the profession, in particular by a massive recruitment in the private sector. “Without a clear commitment of companies in recruitment, this specialty may remain theoretical, without real application in the field,” he warns.
On the other hand, Dr Tayeb Hamdi stresses that the attractiveness of this sector depends largely on the wage conditions offered by companies. That said, if these do not recognize the added value of nurses specializing in occupational health through fair and competitive remuneration, the sector could find it difficult to arouse vocations and could dry up prematurely, despite the pressing needs of the market.
Thus, the awareness of employers in terms of the importance of occupational health services in strategic investment for the company and not only as a social obligation is more and more required to promote the outlets of this new sector.
As a result, Dr. Hamdi insists on the need for companies to set up effective systems in order to really protect workers’ health, instead of limiting themselves to superficial measures aimed only at complying with legal obligations.
It underlines that it is essential to have efficient and active occupational medicine services, equipped with qualified professionals as well as the material tools necessary to carry out their mission, which would considerably strengthen their impact on the improvement of working conditions.
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