by Charmaine Ngatjiheue and Hileni Nembwaya
MORE than 100 of Namibia’s healthcare workers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
This
was revealed by ministry of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula
who announced on Saturday that 11 healthcare workers – seven from
Windhoek, three from Katima Mulilo and one from Outapi – tested positive
for the virus, bringing the total number to 113.
The highest
number of positive tests results for healthcare workers was recorded on
Friday, when 15 in Windhoek tested positive.
Shangula said
healthcare workers are at double the risk of getting infected – through
not only their work environment, but also the community.
“Therefore,
it is critical that healthcare workers are protected – especially at
work, by providing them with appropriate personal protective equipment
(PPE) and skills on how to use it correctly,” he said.
Namibia by yesterday recorded 3 907 Covid-19 cases, with 35 deaths and 2 352 recoveries.
A record of 1 494 recoveries were also recorded by Saturday.
Sadly, 12 Covid-19 deaths were reported within three days last week.
Shangula said this underscores the fact that the country is dealing with a serious disease.
“The major responsibility lies with the public to comply with measures to prevent more deaths,” he said.
CLAIMS OF MALTREATMENT
Meanwhile, healthcare workers treating Covid-19 patients at Oshakati
Intermediate Hospital in the Oshana region say they are being maltreated
by the ministry.
Among their main complaints are severe delays
in risk overtime payment, a lack of protective gear, abuse, prolonged
working hours and inadequate facilities.
Nurses in a letter to
Oshana regional health director Johanna Haimene said they are overworked
and have not been paid for working overtime since March.
They
also said there is a lack of sufficient PPE, extremely limited space to
rest during long and stressful shifts, and they have to wear PPE and
masks for extended hours.
“We are forced to hold in our bladder
for six hours. Don’t you find that uncomfortable? Who knows what may
happen to our health in the future? We are even kept away from our
families for months. We have not seen our families since we came here in
March. Is that not stressful enough?” they said.
The disgruntled
nurses also complained of doctors being allowed to work flexible hours
at a fixed rate for risk-overtime work, and that they are given
preferential treatment.
“We are being psychologically and
emotionally traumatised. No one wants to get close to us, and at some
accommodation facilities we get our food through the windows. Something
must be done to assist us, or else we will surrender and go back to the
wards,” they wrote.
Oshakati Intermediate Hospital superintendent
Vizcaya Amutenya rubbished the nurses’ claims, saying they are
unfounded and aimed at tarnishing the hospital’s good image.
“This
is not the first time I’m hearing such allegations. I have heard it so
many times and do not know what they are talking about. They have enough
PPE and they are working for six hours at a time only,” he said.
Amutenya said the nurses claim every hour they have worked as overtime.
“This
is wrong and unlawful. They have to work 42 hours per week to claim
that as overtime and those are the rules set by the government. They are
not our rules. They have to work for 40 hours per month to claim a
salary; now they want to claim overtime and receive a salary for free,”
he said.
Amutenya urged the disgruntled nurses to approach his
office for further clarity, and asked them to stop “running to the media
to make unfounded allegations”.
A health programme officer who
works closely with Covid-19 patients in Windhoek and preferred to remain
anonymous, said despite the dangers and risks associated with working
in the front line, he is undeterred.
