News / National
Zimbabwe nurses threaten another strike
23 Mar 2015 at 20:52hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) is up in arms with the Health Services Board, accusing it of unfair distribution of the $1,5 million meant for the health sector.
The nurses have given the board a two week ultimatum to correct the alleged irregularities, failure of which they will engage in an industrial action.
The ZINA is citing unfair distribution of money meant for allowances, grading anomalies and the failure by the board to review night duty allowances and medical allowances.
ZINA National Organising Secretary, Mugove Chipfurutse said nurses understand that treasury is experiencing cash flow challenges and they are not demanding money from treasury but the transparent distribution of $1,5 million meant for health sector allowances.
They also want the Health Services Board to implement the upgrading schedule of nurses which was signed in 2010.
"Our concern is on the $1,5 million which was not distributed fairly with nurses getting $44 each while others are getting $658. Sisters-in-charge and personnel above above are denied call allowances and right now, most nurses are in wrong grades," said Chipfurutse.
ZINA Harare Province Chairperson, Enock Dongo said despite constituting 80 percent of the health workforce, nurses are over-looked and sidelined when financial benefits are being given out.
"We are giving you an ultimatum of two weeks to March 27th to attend to the anomalies," said Dongo.
At a ZINA national executive meeting held on the 7th March 2015, it was agreed that if the Health Services Board secretariat does not act within the two weeks, nurses will stop going on night duty.
Contacted for comment, Health Services Board Deputy Chairperson, Dr Elizabeth Xaba said the nurses' grievances are not directed against them but the ministry.
She refused to shed more light, saying she is not the right person to comment.
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenytawa's phones were not reachable.
The nurses have given the board a two week ultimatum to correct the alleged irregularities, failure of which they will engage in an industrial action.
The ZINA is citing unfair distribution of money meant for allowances, grading anomalies and the failure by the board to review night duty allowances and medical allowances.
ZINA National Organising Secretary, Mugove Chipfurutse said nurses understand that treasury is experiencing cash flow challenges and they are not demanding money from treasury but the transparent distribution of $1,5 million meant for health sector allowances.
They also want the Health Services Board to implement the upgrading schedule of nurses which was signed in 2010.
"Our concern is on the $1,5 million which was not distributed fairly with nurses getting $44 each while others are getting $658. Sisters-in-charge and personnel above above are denied call allowances and right now, most nurses are in wrong grades," said Chipfurutse.
"We are giving you an ultimatum of two weeks to March 27th to attend to the anomalies," said Dongo.
At a ZINA national executive meeting held on the 7th March 2015, it was agreed that if the Health Services Board secretariat does not act within the two weeks, nurses will stop going on night duty.
Contacted for comment, Health Services Board Deputy Chairperson, Dr Elizabeth Xaba said the nurses' grievances are not directed against them but the ministry.
She refused to shed more light, saying she is not the right person to comment.
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenytawa's phones were not reachable.
Source - zbc
