The government has courted the ire of nurse aides after excluding them from the locum facility accorded to other health professionals.
In the medical field, locum doctors or nurses provide temporary medical care to patients, often in hospitals, clinics, or general practices.
In a recent communication, the Health Services Commission (HSC) announced a raft of measures which excluded nurse aides from the list of eligible participants for the locum facility.
The Nurse Aides Association of Zimbabwe Trust (NAZT) said the new measures were unfair as its members have provided a backup following a mass exodus of health professionals.
“We, NAZT, write to bring to your attention the pressing issue of the exclusion of nurse aides from locum arrangements in public healthcare facilities,” the association said in a letter to the HSC.
The association said their association was in violation of Section 56 of the constitution of which guarantees equality and non-discrimination.
“This exclusion compromises patient care, increases workload, and undervalues nurse aides’ contributions,” the association said before calling for an immediate review and revision of the locum arrangement circular No 1 of 2024 to include nurse aides.
“We request fair compensation for nurse aides participating in locum arrangements,” the association said.
- Kadewere salutes Mallorca
- Lord Jacob Rothschild: Financier dies aged 87
- Nurse aides fume over govt discrimination
Keep Reading
“We believe that including nurse aides in locum arrangements is essential for maintaining high-quality patient care and promoting a positive work environment.
“We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further and explore ways to address the concerns of nurse aides in Zimbabwe.”
In a memo, HSC secretary, Christopher Pasi, however, said nurse aides should not be considered for any locum opportunities.
Pasi said only pharmacists, pharmacy technicians (provincial hospitals only), medical laboratory scientists and technicians, radiographers, doctors, nurses as well as managers are allowed to take part in the facility.
The country is facing some human resources challenges as most of its qualified personnel have left for greener pastures.
Most facilities rely on the assistance of nurse aides who sometimes play the role of nurses due to staff shortages as a result of the mass exodus.
Soon after Covid-19, the country witnessed a surge in the number of nurse aides, marking their significant contribution in the health sector.
