Nurses at the University Teaching Hospital yesterday refused to meet Health Minister Joseph Kasonde to discuss their grievances. Addressing journalists after he toured the Intensive Care Unit, Ward
E11 and the main pharmacy yesterday, Dr Kasonde said that he was not pleased by the action of nurses not to show up at the organised meeting.
“I am not pleased with the nurses. I have followed them all the way so that we can discuss and find a solution, then they do not want to come to the room we have arranged to meet them.”
“We want 100 per cent work here so that we can deliver to our citizens,” he said.
Dr Kasonde, who was accompanied by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Mwansa Kapeya, assured the striking nurses and other staff that Government would make corrections on the anomalies detected in the recently improved conditions of service for public service workers in which nurses claim that they were given less than what was expected.
He said the health workers would receive their correct salaries this month end. He urged the nurses to state the problem and find solutions before downing tools as they played a critical role in the health delivery system.
He said Government had held talks with relevant authorities over the matter and that the situation was taken care of.
He said Government would continue to respect the law and care for patients and was pleased that situation was slowly normalising.
Mr Kapeya who is Chief Government Spokesperson said Education, Defence and Health were cardinal sectors that did not require any labour stoppage.
He was pleased with some health workers who had realised the importance of their profession by going back to work.
The Nurses want to meet the real Minister of Health. This is the lady going by the name of Dr Christine Kaseba. So bwana Kasonde stop bothering our care givers!
Follow the right routine, careless statement and how do look for solutions, if they don’t want to discuss? Imagine and these are people who are mandated to look after our sick, these are ones who can’t even attend to you busy on the phones with God knows who. PLEASE FIRE THEM and put military personal now. And make sure they lose their benefits as well, and people you watching them whilst pple are dying, beat them up, till the enter the wards, i am on my way there!!!
So the reports in GRZ controlled media that nurses strike is over are false! This is the reason nurses refused to meet the minister. They simply do not trust a government that say one thing today and does another thing tomorrow. Bufi too much
Honourable Minister,it is very unfortunate that your government does not appreciate education.In as far we are happy with salary increment for CDEs where on Earth can somebody who spent years in college and wasted money get less compared to somebody who has never been at a tertially education.
The question is why building more universities when unqualified people get more than professionals and you expect workers to be motivated.
Address the real issue and when are we receiving the GRZ grants to run our institutions bwana Minister, i thought the removal of subsidies will improve funding but to the opposite.
Good move by the nurses. Clueless govt that employs large staff on a small budget. Start preparations to go overseas. You are doomed depending on such a puny govt.
Ba Minister of Health kindly adhere to the nurses cry and Give Ceasor what belongs to Ceasor’s
Nurses should go back to work while the two parties chat to rectify salary anomalies,bloggers don’t play politics with health,genuine Zambians would like to see this standoff called off immediately.PF consult widely I always insist.
Bloggers playing with nurses? It looks like you are ready for Chainama?
Where Minister of Health Dr KASEBA?
@Kazembe,
She is busy displaying her huge smiles somewhere.
*****s careless remarks
Things fall apart, this government of the Bemba for the Bemba and the Bemba is disintegrating real big time.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde is in the UTH casulty wing lobby. He wants to walk over to talk to a group of striking nurses. As he turns to go to the front desk, he accidentally bumps into a tall pretty nurse beside him and as he does, his elbow goes into her breast. They are both quite startled. Kasonde turns to her and says, “Madam, if your heart is as soft as your breast, I know you’ll forgive me.” She replies, “if your p.e.n.i.s is as hard as your elbow, I’m in the Intensive Care Unit.” After waiting for 10 hours in the ICU, Dr Kasonde was heard commensurating, and quote: Iam not pleased by the action of that nurse not to show up at the organised rendevous.“
The most incompetent minister of health ever
Its good that the minister himself has confirmed that Education is among the sectors that are cardinal.
Yet this is not true in most cases, Its just now that we have seen this happen though nit satisfactory. If for sure the minister considers education sector to be vital and cardinal, then we are not supposed to see those pay differences together with those in health or defence. For we can not just be hearing verbal recognitions without that actual implementation.
Besides, i have liked Kakoma’s say that yes in as much as govt wants to improve the welfares of those in low scales there has 2b a diffrnce btwn those who are in public service and never attended tertiary or higher education for people to feel the value of going to school no way that a grade 4 shu get same pay wth those wth…
“He said the health workers would receive their correct salaries this month end. He urged the nurses to state the problem and find solutions before downing tools as they played a critical role in the health delivery system”
What is that? It does not suggest anything. The Hon. Minister is not saying anything to encourage the nurses to go back to work. This is very sad. Which health workers would receive their correct salaries this month end and why are the nurses being asked to state the problem and find solutions before downing tools? Just which health workers is he referring to and why are nurses not included? I thought they have stated their problem. This must be very frustrating to the Nurses. Minister, you are not measuring up.
THE GOVT REALLY IS WASTING MONEY ON BYE – ELECTIONS AND NOW THE POOR ROAD CONSTRUCTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY CHINESE COUNTRY WIDE. COME TO KAFUE AND SEE HOW KAFUE ROAD HAS BEEN POORLY DONE AND NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT. THE ROAD HAS BEEN SO POORLY DONE SUCH THAT IT LACKS GRIP CAUSE IT IS SO SLIPPERLY. PLS SOMEONE DO SOMETHING BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST.
You cattle header what are talking about, follow the fora please.
THE GOVT REALLY IS WASTING MONEY ON BYE – ELECTIONS AND NOW THE POOR ROAD CONSTRUCTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY CHINESE COUNTRY WIDE. COME TO KAFUE AND SEE HOW KAFUE ROAD HAS BEEN POORLY DONE AND NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT. THE ROAD HAS BEEN SO POORLY DONE SUCH THAT IT LACKS GRIP CAUSE IT IS SO SLIPPERLY. PLS SOMEONE DO SOMETHING BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. LETS PUT OUR MONEY TO GOOD USE.
they did well..its pointless to meet such a man who has no regards for your profession..no respect but threats..viva ..HH is the man..
It is lack of clear, open-minded and inclusive leadership. Or you might be misunderstood as a very “strange” and willing to “advise” other Bloggers whom are doing just that, BLOGGING, which after all it is enshrined in the Constitution of this LOVELY Country in Art. 11 of the Constitution.
Have you heard of FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?
Translated to the “bone” it means as YOU DO HAVE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT YOU THINK
on this page, your right is NOT BIGGER OR SMALLER THAN MINE.
Now that we have clarified RIGHTS, can you express your OPINION on the subject-matter PLEASE.
Or, do I need to explain meaning of SUBJECT?
@ 6
It is lack of clear, open-minded and inclusive leadership. Or you might be misunderstood as a very “strange” and willing to “advise” other Bloggers whom are doing just that, BLOGGING, which after all it is enshrined in the Constitution of this LOVELY Country in Art. 11 of the Constitution.
Have you heard of FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?
Translated to the “bone” it means as YOU DO HAVE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT YOU THINK
on this page, your right is NOT BIGGER OR SMALLER THAN MINE.
Now that we have clarified RIGHTS, can you express your OPINION on the subject-matter PLEASE.
Or, do I need to explain meaning of SUBJECT?