Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
THE concerns of healthcare workers are genuine and the Government has pledged to take concrete steps to address them, with the recent deal signed between Zimbabwe and Belarus during President Mnangagwa’s four-day State visit to Minsk one of the key steps.
The deal will see Zimbabwe’s health sector undergoing a major transformation and modernisation, starting with Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
An agreement was signed to start the rehabilitation of key health institutions and deepen health partnerships.
The deal is expected to deliver significant improvements in service delivery, infrastructure modernisation and medical training, which aligns with Zimbabwe’s goal of achieving universal health coverage.
Yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora visited Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare to engage with staff, hear their concerns, and assess the hospital’s condition.
He was accompanied by his deputy, Sleiman Kwidini, Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Aspect Maunganidze and other senior Government officials.
Briefing the media after addressing hospital staff, including nurses, doctors and executives, Dr Mombeshora said Government was fully aware of their grievances.
“What they are earning is not enough,” he said. “They are facing transport challenges, accommodation challenges.
“They also raised some issues concerning their workplace environment. So we are looking at how we can deal with the challenges and allowances to make sure that we can improve their earnings.”
Dr Mombeshora said the meeting was necessitated by a report he received from the Secretariat of Health and Welfare, a unit based at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“They presented their needs to the Chief Medical Officer and also to their sub-secretary. However, I felt there was inadequate communication, which is why I decided to meet with them directly, as I have an open-door policy and talk to everyone, regardless of rank. Not that I didn’t trust what I was told, but I also wanted to hear their concerns first-hand. It’s my pleasure to be here.
“I am glad we are able to have this discussion. Their concerns are very genuine. We want to work towards addressing this matter,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora implored health workers not to vent their anger on social media but to use his ministry’s open-door policy to air their grievances and consequently have them addressed.
“As a ministry, we have an open-door policy; we say that if you have a genuine concern, don’t write to us — just walk in and air your grievances.
“However, we are now hearing about them through social media, let’s use proper channels.”
As an immediate solution to the accommodation crisis, Dr Mombeshora said his ministry had proposed building flats for healthcare workers at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, where there is sufficient space, adding that constructing houses for each healthcare worker would be a long-term solution.
He also revealed that the Health Service Commission is working to improve healthcare remuneration.
However, Dr Mombeshora noted that the concerns of healthcare workers would be fully addressed in the Mid-Term Budget review by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association general secretary, Mr Blessing Shiripinda, described the move taken by the ministry as an important step towards addressing their grievances.
“We are glad that the minister has come to hear our grievances. We raised a range of concerns, including shortages of medication, injections, and syringes, as well as infrastructure issues and leakages.
“We also highlighted accommodation challenges, as many of our workers live far away, given that Parirenyatwa is located in a low-density suburb with unaffordable rentals.”
Mr Brendon Mapuranga, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, said they were glad the minister was fully aware of their grievances, adding that they now look forward to him fast-tracking the resolution of their concerns.
After the visit, Deputy Minister Kwidini led another delegation to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, where he engaged the staff and conveyed Dr Mombeshora’s message.
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