The government of Zimbabwe has responded to rising COVID-19 cases by recruiting more nurses. The current strain is health practitioners involved in an ongoing industrial action demanding better services.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has revealed.
The Information Minister revealed the Cabinet’s concern that the on-going strike in the health sector is negatively affecting the national COVID-19 response.
Mutsvangwa said, “More nurses will be urgently recruited from the available pool of qualified nurses, while processes to resolve those on industrial action continue.”
“In addition, to strengthen the COVID-19 response, Government will recruit additional staff to run PCR tests, including unemployed graduates.”
In response to the rising COVID-19 cases, the government plans are to analyse the disease’s hotspots with a view to implement stricter lockdown measures so as to ensure behavioural change towards the disease in the areas.
The holding of virtual meetings shall be enhanced and that all Ministry staff reporting for duty shall be tested before assuming duty, while the outgoing group of workers is tested before leaving and upon return.
The Rapid Response Teams will be provided with the vehicles and allowances necessary to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently. Social workers and other categories of staff providing documented COVID-19 frontline services at quarantine centres, public institutions and other areas will receive the same allowances as those given to health workers.
The initial Official Communication of COVID-19 results shall be made by the Secretary for Health and Child Care while appropriate action will be taken against those who violate this standing directive.
