Union threatens to withdraw nurses
NANU has also demanded that the health ministry investigates the sudden spike in Covid-19 infections among healthcare workers.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
The Nurses Union of Namibia (NANU) has threatened to withdraw its members from public health facilities in the face of government's denial of a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE).
This comes as more than 100 healthcare workers in the public and private sectors have tested positive for Covid-19.
The latest World Organisation (WHO) situation report also indicates that Namibia is faced with a shortage of medical officers, specialists and epidemiologists.
It also said the country is running low on PPE.
“The shortage of PPE is there and it can be felt in every healthcare facility, but the government keeps on denying it. We challenge them to give us a detailed report on what's causing the rise of positive cases among healthcare workers, if it's not because of the shortage of PPE,” NANU secretary-general Junias Shilunga said yesterday.
He also demanded that the ministry investigates the sudden spike in Covid-19 infections among healthcare workers.
Shilunga is particularly worried about the strain this situation is putting on the remaining staff, who were already chronically overworked before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The remaining nurses are overwhelmed by the amount of the work they do every day due to staff shortages and we may also withdraw them from work if this rise continues and the shortage PPE is not attended to,” he said.
Not true
Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula vehemently denied the PPE shortage.
“I do not know where anybody took that information from. We don't have any shortage of PPE,” he said. According to Shangula, there is a misconception about PPE. He said it is only worn when you work with patients and there is a chance of exposure.
“We also need to wear the PPE correctly, so it serves its purpose. If one does not know how to wear it properly, then even if you wear it, the chances that are you going to exposed will be high,” he said.
Shangula made it clear that there would be no need for the union to withdraw its members from health care facilities, because they are “taken care” of.
He said it is not yet clear whether healthcare workers were more at risk at home, in their community or in hospitals or clinics.
Shangula also rejected the WHO's observation that there is a shortage of medical officers, specialists and epidemiologists as a “wild statement”.
“We do have specialists, because we need them to back up the medical officers in the intensive care units (ICUs). That is mostly where we need them. It is not to say that we are not there, but with the increasing number of Covid-19 patients, there would be an additional need for more people,” Shangula said.
Death lingering
Meanwhile, a study titled 'Covid-19 in Africa: care and protection for frontline healthcare workers' states that without adequate protection, Covid-19 mortalities may be high among healthcare workers and their families in Africa.
“Additionally, many healthcare workers in Africa themselves fall into the category of 'high-risk' for Covid-19, given their high rates of certain non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis and HIV, although evidence on the impacts of the latter on Covid-19 is not yet available.”
The report also points out that the greatest danger to unsuspecting healthcare workers are asymptomatic Covid-19 patients with very mild and general flu-like symptoms.
“Risks for infection may also be highest at the beginning of the outbreak when healthcare workers may not yet be familiar with PPE use. There are major PPE shortages in high-income countries and it is likely that limited supplies will be allocated to less-resourced countries,” the report added.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
The Nurses Union of Namibia (NANU) has threatened to withdraw its members from public health facilities in the face of government's denial of a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE).
This comes as more than 100 healthcare workers in the public and private sectors have tested positive for Covid-19.
The latest World Organisation (WHO) situation report also indicates that Namibia is faced with a shortage of medical officers, specialists and epidemiologists.
It also said the country is running low on PPE.
“The shortage of PPE is there and it can be felt in every healthcare facility, but the government keeps on denying it. We challenge them to give us a detailed report on what's causing the rise of positive cases among healthcare workers, if it's not because of the shortage of PPE,” NANU secretary-general Junias Shilunga said yesterday.
He also demanded that the ministry investigates the sudden spike in Covid-19 infections among healthcare workers.
Shilunga is particularly worried about the strain this situation is putting on the remaining staff, who were already chronically overworked before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The remaining nurses are overwhelmed by the amount of the work they do every day due to staff shortages and we may also withdraw them from work if this rise continues and the shortage PPE is not attended to,” he said.
Not true
Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula vehemently denied the PPE shortage.
“I do not know where anybody took that information from. We don't have any shortage of PPE,” he said. According to Shangula, there is a misconception about PPE. He said it is only worn when you work with patients and there is a chance of exposure.
“We also need to wear the PPE correctly, so it serves its purpose. If one does not know how to wear it properly, then even if you wear it, the chances that are you going to exposed will be high,” he said.
Shangula made it clear that there would be no need for the union to withdraw its members from health care facilities, because they are “taken care” of.
He said it is not yet clear whether healthcare workers were more at risk at home, in their community or in hospitals or clinics.
Shangula also rejected the WHO's observation that there is a shortage of medical officers, specialists and epidemiologists as a “wild statement”.
“We do have specialists, because we need them to back up the medical officers in the intensive care units (ICUs). That is mostly where we need them. It is not to say that we are not there, but with the increasing number of Covid-19 patients, there would be an additional need for more people,” Shangula said.
Death lingering
Meanwhile, a study titled 'Covid-19 in Africa: care and protection for frontline healthcare workers' states that without adequate protection, Covid-19 mortalities may be high among healthcare workers and their families in Africa.
“Additionally, many healthcare workers in Africa themselves fall into the category of 'high-risk' for Covid-19, given their high rates of certain non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis and HIV, although evidence on the impacts of the latter on Covid-19 is not yet available.”
The report also points out that the greatest danger to unsuspecting healthcare workers are asymptomatic Covid-19 patients with very mild and general flu-like symptoms.
“Risks for infection may also be highest at the beginning of the outbreak when healthcare workers may not yet be familiar with PPE use. There are major PPE shortages in high-income countries and it is likely that limited supplies will be allocated to less-resourced countries,” the report added.
[email protected]
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