Striking midwives resume duties

21 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views
Striking midwives resume duties Nurses fear scandal may compromise the country’s nursing standards

The Sunday Mail

Shamiso Yikoniko – Health Reporter

Midwives at Harare Central Hospital, who had embarked on an industrial action last week over unpaid retention allowances, have returned to work after agreeing on a payment plan with Government.

The critical maternity wing employees went on strike last Thursday, but resumed duty yesterday after Government pledged to pay them allowances dating back to July in two instalments.

Midwives have been paid retention allowances of US$59 every month since 2011 when a US$436 million Health Transition Fund was launched to motivate critical staff.

The two-day strike at Harare Central Hospital had left the maternity ward in a dire state as students and locum midwives took up the duties of trained personnel.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa expressed concern over the delay in paying the midwives.

“I have been informed by the Health Services Board that midwives resumed work today (yesterday) after they reached a conclusion over the payment of these allowances,” he said. “However, I’m really concerned with the delay in payment. We are going to sit down with the parties concerned and pave the smooth disbursement of these allowances. Even if the amount is too little, they must just get it on time.”

Harare Central Hospital has seven wards in the maternity section which include the admissions, labour, early labour, theatre, post-natal for normal delivery, post-natal for Caesarian sections and the antenatal wards, employing more than 200 midwives.

On December 17, two midwives toiled to deliver 18 babies at the health institution.

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