News / Local
Govt should be persuaded to allocate health grants to councils
10 Nov 2015 at 02:02hrs | Views
A Bulawayo Councillor Earnest Rafomoyo has challenged the local authority to persuade the government to allocate the local authorities health grants to enable them to be able to deliver proper health programmes.
According to latest minutes the Director of Health Services Zanele Hwalima submitted the health report on challenges faced by the department prompting Rafomoyo to say most of the Council clinics had long queues of patients. He also wanted to know what happened to the UN funding on primary health care in terms of which health personnel could be recruited. Central Government should be persuaded to allocate Local Authorities health grants.
He said the nursing staff salary should be reviewed downwards.
Councillor Siboniso Khumalo concurred with the remarks saying he observed that in his ward (27) the clinic had only 5 nursing staff. This affected A.R.T. patients. He sought clarification on the recruitment of 30 nursing staff as Central government had already approved this. Councillor Norman Hlabani was of the view was that additional nursing staff should be engaged.
"It was generally known that Council staff was lowly paid compared to other Local Authorities. It would be not proper to reduce grades for municipal nursing staff.
Councillor Colleen Ndhlovu observed that reviewing the nursing staff grading downwards would create low staff morale and high staff turnover. There was need for a job evaluation exercise," reads the minutes.
The minutes states that workers' benefits should not be reduced but enhanced instead. Councillor Gedion Mangena said Council staff grades had notches in terms of which those who had served for longer periods, received a higher salary.
Councillor Monica Lubimbi was concerned about the nursing staff shortage which made it difficult for the nursing staff to have relevant breaks during working hours.
"The senior citizens were also requesting first preference at all Council clinics so that they did not queue for long periods," reads the minutes.
"Councillor James Sithole wanted to know the current nurse/patient ratio at Council clinics and what was recommended by the relevant Ministry?"
The minutes states that on the issue of the health grant, the Central Government had indicated that some funds would be allocated to Councils through Provincial/Metropolitan Councils, when these were established.
According to latest minutes the Director of Health Services Zanele Hwalima submitted the health report on challenges faced by the department prompting Rafomoyo to say most of the Council clinics had long queues of patients. He also wanted to know what happened to the UN funding on primary health care in terms of which health personnel could be recruited. Central Government should be persuaded to allocate Local Authorities health grants.
He said the nursing staff salary should be reviewed downwards.
Councillor Siboniso Khumalo concurred with the remarks saying he observed that in his ward (27) the clinic had only 5 nursing staff. This affected A.R.T. patients. He sought clarification on the recruitment of 30 nursing staff as Central government had already approved this. Councillor Norman Hlabani was of the view was that additional nursing staff should be engaged.
"It was generally known that Council staff was lowly paid compared to other Local Authorities. It would be not proper to reduce grades for municipal nursing staff.
The minutes states that workers' benefits should not be reduced but enhanced instead. Councillor Gedion Mangena said Council staff grades had notches in terms of which those who had served for longer periods, received a higher salary.
Councillor Monica Lubimbi was concerned about the nursing staff shortage which made it difficult for the nursing staff to have relevant breaks during working hours.
"The senior citizens were also requesting first preference at all Council clinics so that they did not queue for long periods," reads the minutes.
"Councillor James Sithole wanted to know the current nurse/patient ratio at Council clinics and what was recommended by the relevant Ministry?"
The minutes states that on the issue of the health grant, the Central Government had indicated that some funds would be allocated to Councils through Provincial/Metropolitan Councils, when these were established.
Source - Byo24News
