16 Mar 2020

Government has been urged to prioritise safety of nurses while on duty.

The call was made by Parliamentary health committee chairperson, who is also a Member of Parliament for Mahalapye West, Mr David Tshere.

He was in Maun speaking at the activation of nurse’s day and launch of Florence Nightingale lamp, which will rove around the country. 

He observed that the Parliamentary health committee was irked by the number of incidents in which some health officers were raped while on duty.

Mr Tshere was therefore of the view that the government must do all in its capacity to ensure safety of nurses while on duty, saying an injury to the nurses was an injury to the nation.

He also requested the government to reabsorb health workers that were participated in  the 2011 public service strike. 

He said once re-absorbed the health staff would help augment the shortage of workers experienced in the health sector, saying the ex-officers were willing to go back to work.

Mr Tshere observed that nurses required protective clothing and necessary equipment since they were at the frontline in the war against pandemics such as Covid-19, therefore appealed to the government to cater for nurses and their professional needs.

To Botswana Nurse’s Union, Mr Tshere advised them to remain non-partisan, saying politicising their union would work against their mandate.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Mr Solomon Sekwakwa reminded nurses and midwives that theirs was not a job, but a calling.

Mr Sekwakwa pointed out that there was a need for decentralisation of health service and working closely with the private sector.

He observed that the public health sector faced serious challenges of losing health staff, especially doctors and specialists which he said was a world-wide phenomenon not only a Botswana problem. 

He noted that government was only able to retain about five per cent of graduates as many looked for lucrative markets.

Ministry of Health and Wellness chief nursing officer, Ms Khumo Modisaemang said the Florence Nightingale lamp signified light and love associated with the nursing personnel. 

Ms Modisaemang appealed to the nurses to emulate Florence Nightingale in their service by serving patients with love.

She said the lamp would rove across the country to signify the commitment by nurses as a symbol of light and love. Ends