The Department of Health says it welcomes the report on National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union’s (Nehawu) fact finding mission.
The key findings from the report titled, Fact-Finding Site-Visits Select Healthcare Hospitals Bulletin, are the lack of adequate provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), lack of compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and shortage of staff.
In a statement, the department says constructive engagements between management and unions has always been encouraged to create team work in the fight against COVID-19.
The department further says it says it is critical for that there are platforms that facilitate ongoing engagement on issues of safety of employees and adequacy of protective equipment, training and preparation for all health workers to care for COVID positive patients.
“In a bid to ensure continuous engagement with all stakeholders critical to the fight against COVID1-9, the Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, gave a directive for Occupational Health and Safety committees to be created in every provincial, district and local hospital level. ‘
Below is the full statement:
Nehawu questions COVID-19 statistics
Nehawu has questioned the accuracy of COVID-19 statistics that the Health Department has been releasing, particularly those related to health workers.
The department’s statistics indicate that as of last Thursday, close to 13200 healthcare workers were infected with the coronavirus, while 107 workers had died of COVID-19.
The Unions’s Zola Sephatha says these figures paint a very bleak picture.
Below is Nehawu’s report:
In the video below, Nehawu calls for a mass protest on August 21 against poor working conditions:
Fact Finding Site Visits at Select Public Healthcare Hospitals Bulletin (1) (Text)
