RFM NURSES PETITION PM

MBABANE – The nurses’ strike at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital entered its second day yesterday, with nurses delivering petitions to the Cabinet Offices as well as the Ministry of Health.

The half-uniformed nurses abandoned work to deliver a petition in which they decried poor working conditions, that have resulted in public dissatisfaction with services rendered by the hospital.
Chiefly among these is shortage of drugs and working tools.

“The facility has been faced with these shortages for a long time and seemingly, management is not paying any attention to this even after several engagements,” said the nurses.

The nurses also said that uniforms and protective clothing had not been supplied for three years.

They alleged that they had been promised by the chief nursing officer that the issue would be resolved with the introduction of a uniform policy. 
“This was done but not to completion, since management failed to give regular follow-up meetings on the matter despite numerous reminders,” they said. The nurses also said the staff shortage was worsening the poor working conditions.

“Health services to be provided by the nurses per patient, have been added, as well as a new division within the hospital. After all these additions, the number of nurses was reduced to less than that which is supposed to be according to the hospital establishment. We therefore demand a correction to staff shortage balancing in 14 days; meanwhile, nurses shall revert to working at a single nurse capacity,” reads part of the petition.

Unfit

The nurses also petitioned government to improve the female medical ward because it was declared unfit for human occupation.
“The female medical ward was declared unfit for human occupation by two entities, using two different laws. management directed the principal human resources officer to issue out warning letters forcing nurses to go back and work in that extremely hazardous ward.

“Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions (ENHI) adamantly refused to abide by the law,” further read the petition. The nurses union also informed Cabinet that expatriate nurses at the hospital had their services terminated unfairly because they were not paid terminal benefits at the end of their contracts.
“Expatriates have no exit plan, resulting in unfair termination of contracts,” the petition reads. 

The nurses also demand to be on the payroll of government, given that the hospital also has a government representative in its Board of Directors.
The nurses want a response from government within 21 days.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Principal Secretary, Victor Nxumalo promised to hand the petition over to the relevant officials.
On the other hand, the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President Bheki Mamba, said the nurses deserved to be heard by government, failing which they would take drastic action.

“Government has been recruiting police officers, soldiers and Correctional officers but nothing is done to ensure the health industry operates efficiently. People are not supposed to die for lack of medicine when there is money to recruit officers. I fail to understand why soldiers are given free food yet they are also employed and salaried like everyone else,” he said.

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