Provide Frontline Health Workers With Adequate PPEs.
Ronald Chigwada
Chitungwiza residents have once again reiterated the need for their municipality and the government to provide municipal health workers with protective clothing as they continue to risk COVID-19 infection while on duty.
Speaking with Chitungwiza Residents’ Trust (chitrest) leader, Diana Kuvheya pointed out that it is high time for the authorities to take COVID-19 seriously and not temper with lives of those on the frontline.
“The government and Chitungwiza municipal must show that nurses are essential by providing protective clothing. Recently more than seven health workers in Chitungwiza local clinics tested positive all because they are not being well equipped with protective clothing, leaving them vulnerable to the pandemic”.
Furthermore, Kuvheya also added that authorities are not doing enough to ensure that health services are easy to access during this time since some of the local clinics have been closed after staff members tested positive. In a meeting held recently, local health workers told CHITREST that they have not received any Covid-19 allowance as promised by the government.
St Mary’s clinic is one of the clinics that has been temporarily closed due to shortage of health professionals. Chitungwiza Municipality Acting Town Clerk Dr Tonderai Kasu confirmed the development in a statement advising the public of some of the staff at local clinics that had been exposed and contracted Covid-19 while on duty.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enock Dongo echoed CHITREST concerns saying that there has been an outcry over the safety and well being of health workers across the country. He emphasized Protective clothing is one of the key fundamental provisions that all health workers should be equipped with.
According to Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe has recorded more than 27 200 cumulative cases, at least 16512 recoveries and 7 13 deaths. Meanwhile the ministry continues to urge citizens to practice all possible and necessary measures available including proper wearing of masks to curb the spread of COVID-19.
