Nurses defy threat of dismissal, continue with strike action

Nurses defy threat of dismissal, continue with strike action
Written by Staff Reporters
Monday, June 29, 2009 2:47:55 PM

STRIKING health workers have defied government orders to return to work today or face dismissal. A check at the University Teaching Hospital found nurses and other health workers gathered outside the hospital premises waiting to get further instructions from their union leadership who were reportedly meeting around 11:00 hours.

Some nursing staff interviewed on condition of anonymity said they would continue with the strike until the government made a clear commitment towards addressing their concerns.

And the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) has urged the government to rescind its decision to fire striking health workers today and instead revert to dialogue.

ZMA spokesperson Dr Mzaza Nthele said the association was concerned that dialogue seemed to have failed between the nurses and government.

Dr Nthele, who is also the association's vice president, said this was evident from the statement made by health minister Kapembwa Simbao on Thursday June 25, 2009 on national television.

"ZMA holds the view that the Ministry of Health (MoH) as a government department looking after nurses' welfare should take a more conciliatory approach. ZMA believes that every effort should be made to address the concerns of nurses currently working in the country, who after all, have remained patriotic and worked, at a great personal sacrifice, for so many years," he said.

He said it was ill-advised to imagine that some nurses somewhere were likely to come in and take up vacancies if the current lot of nurses were to be dismissed.

Dr Nthele said dismissing the nurses would just compound the already critical problem of shortage of health personnel, the nurses in particular.

"The ZMA wish to urge the government to rescind its decision and instead revert to dialogue. ZMA further advises the government to treat this matter with delicacy and magnanimity. We are confident that a spirit of 'give and take' will yield the best result for all parties concerned," said Dr Nthele.

Simbao last Thursday said workers that were not interested in working would not be allowed to gather within the hospital premises and that those that do not report for work today should consider themselves fired.

Information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha on Friday evening reiterated the government's stance that failure by the striking nurses to report for work tomorrow would lead to serious disciplinary action resulting in dismissal from work.

On Saturday, labour minister Austin Liato said from today, the government would engage retired nurses and recent graduates to replace the striking nurses who had been away from work for over 35 days.

And police officers yesterday chased the striking health workers that had gathered at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for a meeting.

The workers first gathered near the casualty ward but were chased by the police.

However, they later gathered outside Nationalist Stadium

where they resolved to continue with their strike.

A check at some clinics in Lusaka found them deserted with only one nurse.

Kabwata clinic was deserted with no patients and had one nurse.

The situation was the same at Kamwala clinic, which was quiet by press time.

Meanwhile, health workers in Ndola resolved to hold prayers and fast at Kansenshi Cemetery, vowing to continue with their strike.

Ndola District Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union chairman John Beene in an interview on Saturday said the nurses wanted to show government that its threats to dismiss them were regrettable.

"Nurses have stayed away from work. I checked [on Saturday] around all the health institutions, no one has reported for work. We are ready to be fired. That's why we are going to have prayer and fasting meetings [at the graveyards] to show that we are sorry for the departed souls that died during this period of strike. It's not our wish," he said.

Beene said health workers should be forgiven for the strike, which had resulted into loss of lives but said this happened because government had failed to meet their demands.

He said the workers felt the graveyard was a peaceful place where they would not be victimised.

The workers last Friday went to have their meeting at Kansenshi Cemetery after police dispersed them, blocking them from holding their meetings at hospital premises.

The situation in Luanshya and Kitwe remain largely unchanged as the health workers did not resume work as commanded by government.

In Luanshya, the striking health workers dared government to dismiss them.

Health Workers Union of Zambia (HWUZ) branch vice chairman Innocent Daka said the workers had vowed to continue with the strike until their demands were met.

Daka said the workers would today meet at Roan General Hospital and that if police blocked them, they would go and gather in the graveyard.

But PF president Michael Sata has cautioned Liato and Simbao against threatening striking health workers with dismissals.

He said that approach was the worst form of resolving industrial disputes.

"These two gentlemen should know that it takes many years to train nurses and doctors, and at great expense. These are professionals who cannot be replaced any time like politicians. They cannot be found on the streets like some politicians in this government," said Sata.

"Replacing a nurse is not as easy as replacing Dora Siliya. So, even if this government employs refugees in the health sector they will also go on strike because they will not be given enough money. The best is for this government to give our doctors and nurses money. Simbao and Liato should stop impressing their appointing authority and consider the seriousness of the matter."