Zimbabwe’s health sector continues to collapse with senior doctors adding the number of medical practitioners, including Harare nurses who are on industrial action.
Senior Hospital Doctors Association says the doctors are demanding the government to re-instate medical practitioners who were dismissed during the industrial action.
“We regret to inform you that, the SHDA has agreed with its members who had remained behind offering emergency services to the hospitals that we are no longer able to offer any emergencies services as from 26th of November 2019, 1400 hours; until all the fired doctors are reinstated and there is adequate redressal of their incapacitation,” the association says.
“Members also took note of the continued poor outcomes on the patients being attended to. Due to the above, we will no longer be able to offer ant services until the matters that we have raised are urgently addressed.”
Harare nurses have not been going to work since the beginning of November citing incapacitation.
Head of the Health Department in the Government briefed the Cabinet concerning the nurses strike according to Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
“On the situation at Harare City Council clinics, the Minister indicated that 99 out of the expected 179 nurses turned up for duty as of 25th November, 2019,” Mutsvangwa said.
“The recent opening of the Edith Opperman Clinic in Mbare has since eased the challenge of home-based deliveries.”
The government, which has since discharged 448 doctors, at a cabinet briefing said all avenues to ensure that the situation in the health sector returns to normalcy are being explored for immediate implementation.
“Regarding the recruitment of Doctors, the Ministry of Health and Child Care will publish before the end of this week an advert in the press for all posts that have become vacant as a result of the disciplinary process,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Processes on the recruitment of 700 nurses, 150 Cuban medical staff as well as the training of 6000 Clinical Officers are being expedited.”
