A NATIONWIDE nurses' strike is looming, as the healthcare workers in various provinces have formally notified their intention to withdraw services over poor remuneration, worsening working conditions and critical staff shortages.
This comes against the backdrop of a long-standing crisis in the country’s public health sector, which has been plagued by underfunding, poor infrastructure and mass exodus of skilled health professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.
In leaked letters addressed to the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) seen by NewsDay, the nurses said they had exhausted all avenues to resolve the crisis amicably to no avail.
“Due to poor remuneration, poor working conditions and staff shortage, we are unable to perform our duties as nurses. Despite our efforts to resolve this matter amicably, we have not received satisfactory support or resolution,” one letter read.
The letters were signed by healthcare workers from different provinces.
The nurses alleged that their concerns have long been ignored, pushing them towards industrial action in accordance with the country’s labour laws.
“In line with the country’s labour laws and regulations, we are left with no option but to take industrial action,” the letter further stated.
The country’s public hospitals and clinics have been struggling to provide even the most basic services. Reports continue to emerge of patients being turned away because of lack of medicine, functional equipment and overwhelmed staff.
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The nurses said unless urgent measures are taken to address their grievances, the health sector could plunge into a deeper crisis, putting patients at risk.
“Failure to do so will lead to industrial action, including [strike]. We believe this step will be unfortunate and potentially detrimental to patient care.”
Zina president Enock Dongo was unavailable for comment.
Health and Child Care deputy minister Sleiman Kwidini said the government was working on the nurses’ plight.
“We know their plight and as the government, we are working on it,” he said.
Over the past decade, nurses have repeatedly engaged in industrial action, citing erosion of salaries by inflation, unsafe working conditions and chronic underfunding of the health sector but their demands have largely gone unmet.
Despite repeated protests, government responses have often been limited to threats of disciplinary action, short-term allowances or partial adjustments that quickly lose value.
Thousands of health professionals have left the country in search of greener pastures.
