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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter
Health workers who initially planned to completely withdraw their labour beginning yesterday, have resolved to continue reporting for work amid revelations that Government has committed to reviewing the cost of living adjustment (COLA) in July.
In an interview yesterday, Health Apex Council chairperson Mr Panganayi Chivese confirmed the latest development saying workers have agreed to grant Government the time it requested to address their grievances.
“We had a meeting from which we were advised that Government has committed to review the COLA with effect from 1 July and it is from this information that we have resolved to continue reporting for work.
“However, as said before, employees are incapacitated to report for work every day of the week and will be reporting twice a week,” said Mr Chivese.
Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association (ZINA) president Mr Enock Dongo reiterated that nurses were no longer taking part in any strike but echoed Mr Chivese’s sentiments that their members will be reporting for duty twice a week instead of thrice.
He said this decision was based on the commitment made by President Mnangagwa in their Friday June 21 meeting that took place in Harare.
“The President said Government will make an announcement pertaining to COLA in the next 10 days and that is what has guided our next move,” said Mr Dongo.
He said in the same meeting the President also instructed Treasury to work towards absorption of all qualified but unemployed nurses in public health institutions to mitigate current gaps in staffing shortages.
Mr Dongo said other issues pertaining to the nursing fraternity that were discussed include challenges with the current motor vehicle scheme and stringent conditions on the duty-free provision for employees with free funds, which Government committed to look into.
He said Government also committed to speed up the process of bringing nurses working in mission hospitals under full jurisdiction of Government and relooking at some discriminatory provisions of the Public Health Act related to occupation of managerial posts in the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Normal service at hospitals
“The ZINA national executive valued this engagement with President Mnangagwa as it unlocked other issues that have been sticking for a couple of years in the nursing profession outside the remuneration issue. We hope Government will stick to its commitment,” said Mr Dongo.
Meanwhile, yesterday patients continued receiving services at Harare, Parirenyatwa and Chitungwiza Central hospitals as the Apex Council meeting took place.
At Harare Central Hospital, patients could be seen shuttling from one department to another, a sign of services being rendered.
Patients interviewed, however, bemoaned the slow pace of service delivery.
At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, service disruption was witnessed in the morning when all health workers were attending a workers meeting called by their leadership. Normal service delivery, however, resumed later in the day, when some employees, mainly nurses, returned to their workstations.
It was also business as usual at Chitungwiza Central Hospital as most workers were doing their everyday work without any major disruptions.
Normal service delivery was also reported at United Bulawayo, Mpilo Central and Ingutsheni hospitals.
Online Reporter