Nurses in North-Western Province have appealed to government to consider paying of rural hardship allowance in order to motivate medical personnel serving in rural areas.
The nurses, who cheered as their union representative gave a speech during the international nurses’ day cerebration, later told ZANIS in an interview that North-western was a more of a rural area than other provinces in Zambia.
The nurses came as far as Chavuma, Zambezi, Mwinilunga, Mufumbwe, Kabompo and Solwezi to attend this year’s commemoration of nurses’ day which was hosted in Kasempa district.
Speaking at the same occasion, Zambia Union of Nurses Provincial Chairman, Laban Mungwala said North-western was predominately rural hence the need for the government to pay rural hardship allowance.
He said health workers in rural areas need motivation as they face many challenges while working to improve the lives of the people.
Mr. Mungwala observed that some teachers, who were serving in the same areas, have been receiving rural hardship allowance leaving health workers.
“As for us, we are forgotten simply because we are classified as essential workers and we cannot easily take industrial action,” he said.
Among the many challenges that were stated was the issue of housing allowance, which was said to be below their entitlement and the retention scheme.[quote]
Mr. Mungwala further commended nurses for having a self-sacrificing spirit, adding that most of the health centres have shortages of staff thereby making the few workers overloaded with work.
He said the issue of inadequate staff was not because of lack of skilled workers but because of lack of motivation in the health sector.
“As long as these are not addressed, nurses will continue going until such a time when government will be willing to provide meaningful conditions of service,” he said.
And gracing the occasion Kasempa District Commissioners Henry Shantolo commended the nurses for being innovative and ensuring that patients were cared for.
Mr. Shantolo said initiatives by health workers have resulted into significant improvement of the health systems in the district.
He further urged the public to support the efforts of the nurse in order to provide solutions to the challenges and demands being faced in providing care in the country.
ZANIS
Hella Boma LTD! Can you start taking care of our professional nurses. Ba dealin’ga na bantu ka! What’s wrong with the government of today? Why do people aalways hav ecry for every little thing that is rightfully their’s? Bwezani M’dala, can you effect action on this….!!!
Now this hardship allowances are a pain!! Please give the people what belongs to them.
The best thing would be to speed up the decentralization process. Just can not keep on begging from LSK .
Yes indeed, North-Western my beloved birth place, land full of natural resources the future of Zambia’s economy. The complaints from the nurses including other health staff are real but one thing they have not realised is that some Makelu guys at the Ministry HQ had a field year stealing their money with impunity. Its a sad situation even we massive Donar funding there has not been much improvement in our healthy care delivery system may be it will improve with intended introduction of mobile hospitals as staff involved will be rotating hence getting decent allowances for being on mobile hospitals. Quality of life style in Zambia has seen marked improvement since the introduction of mobile phones, where reception is poor users climb trees and anti-hills and life goes on like that.
bakapala baladuma money ku ministry. run simon kamwendo miti, run, the ACC are coming.
Wait until the mobile hospital comes it will be a recipe for more stealing inthe minstry of health. Sorry Nurses i feel for you.
Long overdue – give the nurses what they need or they will be appreciated somewhere else. Learn to take care of your own government. Go Nurses, take it to them!!