Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

Media statement

Thursday, 27 November 2014

The Democratic Nursing of South Africa (DENOSA) in KwaZulu-Natal would like to register its discontent with constant threats from community members which are behind mass exodus of nurses at Mpophomeni Clinic near Howick, and appeals to both community members and leaders in the area to discourage this counter-productive approach as it is slowly hurting the community already.

Community members around Mpophomeni Township have been threatening nurses who don’t originate from Mpophomeni and who are employed at the local clinic to leave so that their own trained nurses could be employed. As a result of these threats, of the 15 nurses who are based at the clinic, eight have since resigned on fears of victimization, leaving the clinic with only 7 nurses.

The departure of these nurses is becoming a huge disadvantage to both the very same community members in urgent need of health service as well as few nurses who are left with great load of work on their few hands. The risk with this development is that sick people will have to be turned back when and if all the remaining nurses leave the facility as these threats may turn into physical violence anytime soon, as they are constantly subjected to verbal abuse and threats. The developments are changing the working environment for nurses into a negative practice environment, which is against the spirit of a positive practice environment that DENOSA advocates for in health facilities for the good of patients and workers.  

DENOSA is greatly aggrieved by the old-fashioned way of raising concerns by community of Mpophomeni, the price of which will be the sick and vulnerable who need urgent medical attention. The community of Mpophomeni does not have enough trained nurses who are all from the area who can be employed. 

Not more than 50% of the clinic’s staff complement is from the area, and DENOSA’s concern is that this may trigger more back-lash from neighbouring towns where most workers at Mpophomeni come from, as towns such as Howick and Pietermaritzburg equally employ people from Mpophomeni Township.  

DENOSA would like to appeal to community leaders and councilors to intervene and address the situation before it gets even worse than it currently is. The remaining nurses fear for their own safety and may leave the facility anytime.

DENOSA also appeals to the Health Department in the province to explain to the communities how nurses are allocated in health facilities, as most are merely fulfilling their obligation as their nursing studies were funded by provincial government. Once they finish their studies, nurses get allocated by health department to various facilities according to the need to either work full time or to do their community service.   

DENOSA’s fear is that this action by the community is against the spirit of re-engineering primary health facilities throughout the country, where clinics are being staffed with key personnel so they could address primary health needs of communities. 

End

Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) KwaZulu-Natal

For more information, contact:

Sibonelo Cele, DENOSA Chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal

Mobile: 079 501 49 45

Or

Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager

Mobile: 079 875 2663

Website: www.denosa.org.za

Facebook: DENOSA National Page

Twitter: @DENOSAORG