Written by Sello Motseta
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 00:00
Officials at the Namibian High Commission in Gaborone have revealed that
approximately 250 medical personnel who are facing retrenchment or are
uncertain about their future are opting to pursue employment
opportunities elsewhere in the region.
"I cannot give breakdown in figures as forms are not routed through this
Mission, but nurses are the most numerous, though there are also doctors
and midwives. Some of them are dismissed, others are not," acknowledged
Bernhard von Seyldlitz, spokesperson for the Namibian High Commission.He
maintained, "The reasons mentioned verbally by some are dismissal; want
to go to Namibia; heard there are vacancies in Namibia; etc. They will
fill in the application forms and send them to the Namibian Ministry of
Health and Social Services, attaching copies of their qualifications.
They will mail these applications themselves - not through the High
Commission."
According to Botswana government officials, human resource challenges
are usually addressed through various bi-lateral relations such as with
the Cuban Government, which has an understanding with Botswana allowing
Cuba to provide specialised health personnel in different areas, such as
doctors, biomedical engineers and pharmacists.
Doreen Motshegwa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, said, "There
are currently 45 Cuban health employees whose contracts are coming to an
end. These were engaged to alleviate the shortage of health personnel,
especially doctors, experienced in the country. The Cuban Government has
expressed interest in continuing to assist the Ministry of Health with
more doctors."
She said, "As a result, we are expecting not more than 25 health workers
from Cuba.The coming of the Cuban doctors should not, and is not in any
way linked to the current situation. We are expecting the Cuban doctors
anytime from June 2011."Officials insist there will be no language
barriers and that the doctors concerned understand and communicate well
in English although with a strong accent.
"And where appropriate other personnel within the facility bridge the
gap. We have only one closed health post in Bonwapitse in the Mahalapye
area," said Motshegwa.
She said all hospitals are operating as normal. A visit to the only
State hospital in Gaborone, Princess Marina, showed that some allied
health professionals such as physiotherapists, pharmacists, occupational
therapists and x-ray specialists were apparently at work throughout the
public sector strike. According to a hospital insider the worst affected
areas are the wards, the kitchen, the laundry and porters. "You may see
a doctor only once a day when your condition requires that he should
really check on you 3 times a day," said Utlwanang Sesupo, a patient at
Princess Marina.
He said, "Things are bad because of the shortage of staff; we are forced
to eat takeaways. The food comes in plastic containers and not the metal
plates we are used to. I do not think it comes from the kitchen."
Police presence was visible around the State hospital, which is next to
the Gaborone Senior Secondary School where striking civil servants meet
daily.Komissa Burzlaff, Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and
Manpower (BOCCIM) Corporate Communications and Public Relations officer,
said, "Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies were experiencing border
delays in the supply of medication, which can have a detrimental effect
on public health.
The reduction in waste collection is also posing a health hazard to
business employees and the public."
According to official reports the dismissals from the health sector
include 65 medical/dental doctors, 531 nursing personnel, 211 allied
health workers and 668 support staff. There is however no comprehensive
report on the impact of the strike on health facilities
countrywide."While it is true that the strike has had, and continues to
have impact on the delivery of health services nationwide, it is
difficult to demonstrate direct cause and effect of the strike on the
casualty rate at the facilities, as casualties happen even outside the
strike," said Motshegwa.
She said, "There is obviously impact on the delivery of the health
service, but we have so far managed to address patients' needs and will
continue to ensure that the services are restored to near normal as
possible, under the circumstances."
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