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The Herald, July 18 1981
FORTY-FIVE pregnant trainee nurses have been sacked from Harare Hospital’s nurses training school, the Minister of Health, Dr Herbert Ushewokunze, said yesterday.
“I have said that the 45 should be sent home because I am not running a maternity nursing school, I am running a school of nursing,” the minister said.
The minister also confirmed that he had directed those four senior nurses recently sacked from the Family Planning Association’s Spilhaus Centre, be reinstated. The four are Mrs Elinah Dauya, Mrs Getrude Chitopo, Mrs Mavis Chihota and Mrs Annah Musarurwa, each of whom has served for more than 10 years.
The nurses are said to have been sacked by the outgoing director of the Family Planning Association, Mr Peter Dodds, who said in letters sent to them that their services were no longer required at Spilhaus Centre and went on to advise them about vacancies elsewhere in Zimbabwe.
Speaking on behalf of the nurses, Mrs Musarurwa said they had been dismissed because “a spy” had said they were rejoicing at Mr Dodd’s resignation over the Depo Provera controversy.
Commenting on the saga, Dr Ushewokunze said: “The decision is that the four be reinstated in their positions. I do not see what wrong they did. Most of them have spent 10 to 15 years at Spilhaus. I have said they must go back.”
Meanwhile, the minister also disclosed that a Jesuit father had confirmed to him four days ago than an Italian doctor, said by the Rhodesian security forces to have been killed by guerillas in July 1979, was actually murdered by security forces.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Dr Ushewokunze, the Minister of Health in Zimbabwe at the time, expelled 45 pregnant trainee nurses due to a policy that prohibited pregnant students from continuing their training.
The action was taken as part of a broader discriminatory policy against pregnant students in the healthcare sector in Zimbabwe during that period.
The decision to expel the pregnant student nurses sparked controversy and criticism both locally and internationally. Many viewed it as a violation of the rights of these women to education and employment opportunities based on their pregnancy status. The incident highlighted the discriminatory practices prevalent in the healthcare sector in Zimbabwe at that time.
The expulsion underlined the challenges faced by women in accessing education and pursuing careers, especially in environments where policies discriminate against them based on their reproductive status.
Online Reporter