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Herald Reporter
Government has bemoaned the freezing of nursing posts in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which it says is negatively affecting operations at major hospitals. Speaking after a tour of Harare Central Hospital, the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said the freeze was of major concern, especially as 2 400 nurses remained unemployed.

“Hospitals are experiencing shortages of human resources yet there are trained nurses who are unemployed. The freeze should have been selective and spared the critical area of health. We are saying unfreeze those posts in the health sector so that we employ more nurses and doctors,” he said.

Harare Central Hospital chief executive, Mrs Peggy Zvavamwe, said the hospital wanted to employ nurse aides but was unable to do so due to the freezing of posts.

Minister Parirenyatwa said the issue of human resources in the health ministry should be adequately considered during the pre-budget meeting in Victoria Falls.

“We should also ensure that we maintain the staff, attract them and keep them in the system. They may get in the system but will quickly move out because they will not be satisfied. We should ensure the tools of trade are available so that we keep the nurses and doctors on the job,” he said.

Executive chairman of the Health Service Board Dr Lovemore Mbengeranwa, who was part of the delegation, said long back there used to be housing and car loans which were meant to motivate the nurses.