Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Start work or resign, nurses told

Start work or resign, nurses told
Sunday, June 21, 2009, 13:14

MINISTER of Health, Kapembwa Simbao, has appealed to nurses and other health workers to go back to work because their continued strike after the signing of a new collective agreement is illegal.

And Government spokesman, Ronnie Shikapwasha has said that striking nurses at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka should go back to work or resign if they do not want the 15 per cent salary increment offered.

In a statement issued on Friday night, Mr Simbao said it is not fair to continue the strike even after the conclusion of negotiations and the signing of a new collective agreement between Government and the workers’ unions.

“I decided to wait for the conclusion of the negotiations. And now the negotiations have been concluded, the unions have signed the labour agreements as best as they could, but still I see a continuation of strikes in some areas. We think this is not fair. It is not fair to the health fraternity, to the Government, to the union leaders and to the Zambian people,” the minister said.

Mr Simbao pointed out the workers took industrial action when negotiations were going on, without a dispute being declared between the negotiating parties.
He said workers should uphold the laws because everyone would suffer if lawlessness becomes the norm.

Mr Simbao said the norm of lawlessness could start with a small number of people defying Government, while many people sit by the sidelines cheering and encouraging them.

“Everything becomes impossible to manage, and some people think Government is to blame, but they forget how it all started, now that lawlessness becomes the law. I want to tell the nurses that staying away from work is not what we want to encourage,” Mr Simbao said.

He expressed surprise at the action by the nurses because, “on my own and on behalf of the Government, we are very nurse-friendly.”

Mr Simbao said that Government decided to address issues affecting nurses and other health workers such as accommodation, transport and uniforms for nurses even before they went on strike.

He said he has allocated K4.8billion for nurses’ uniforms and all health workers in the country and that these uniforms will be bought this year after the ministry is funded.

“This is very bad, especially that nurses have failed to reason and stand on the word of the opposition. So if nurses feel they will not go back to work, they can resign now,” he said.
Mr Simbao said the ministry will this year construct houses for nurses in Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Mansa, Chipata and Solwezi.

Thirty-two one-bedroom flats will be constructed at Highland House in Lusaka, 16 one-bedroom flats each at Ndola Central Hospital, Arthur Davison Hospital and Kitwe Central Hospital.

Mansa, Chipata and Solwezi general hospitals will have 16 one-bedroom flats each for nurses.
Mr Simbao said the Ministry of Health will also purchase 30-seater minibuses to augment the existing fleet for nurses.

He has forwarded this proposal to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
The minister said issues of leave pay and long service awards were also addressed during the negotiations.

Mr Simbao said he has also asked his permanent secretary to carry out a study of nurses’ remunerations and conditions of service in Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, so that Zambia could properly position itself in the region.

“I did all this even before the strike and I am fully committed to this effort. I am therefore appealing to nurses who still see it fit to continue with the strike that you are not doing it in good faith. You must return to work and serve the Zambian people,” Mr Simbao said.

And Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview with the Sunday Mail that if nurses have the passion for patients, they should end the strike.

He accused some opposition leaders of encouraging nurses to continue with the strike.

“This is very bad, especially that nurses have failed to reason and stand on the word of the opposition. So if nurses feel they will not go back to work, they can resign now,” he said.

Gen. Shikapwasha said Government has spoken and it is up to the striking nurses to decide whether to go back to work or resign.

A check by the Sunday Mail at UTH yesterday revealed that the nurses have continued their strike and the wards are being manned by doctors and student nurses. Most of the wards were closed.

Meanwhile, police have continued their vigil at the hospital to curb theft of property and to prevent striking nurses from loitering within the premises.
In Ndola, NKWETO MFULA reports that nurses have continued their strike despite their union leaders telling them to return to work.

Student nurses were yesterday assisting senior members of staff and expatriate doctors at Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) and Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital (ADCH).

Some retirees have been called to beef up staff at the two institutions.

Most of patients at NCH who were not in a critical condition have been discharged from the hospital.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Labels: KAPEMBWA SIMBAO, NURSES, STRIKE, UTH

posted by MrK @ 2:45 PM