Zimbabwe is facing a serious health crisis. Just as the doctors have just notified the government about their withdrawal of services, nurses have also joined in.
The latest development leaves Zimbabwe with no care givers at their pubic hospitals. Both groupings for nurses and doctors have one concern in common, the lack of concern over their safety by the government. Nurses are the frontline staff that deal with sick people who might have the deadly coronavirus unknowingly. The daily exposure to patients pose a risk to frontline staff.
Zimbabwe nurses have embarked on job action with immediate after authorities failed to address their concerns within 48 hours.
In a notice dated 25 March and addressed to members, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) said:
Following our letter that was presented to our employer 48 hours ago, informing them to urgently attend to our demands as frontline workers, it seems our concerns are not getting the urgency it deserves.So, in that regard, all nurses are withdrawing their services with immediate effect until there is genuine action taken by the employer. We will only get back to work once our concerns have been swiftly acted upon.
Zimbabwe has so far recorded 3 coronavirus cases and one death. The state of hospitals in Zimbabwe has been questioned on numerous times.