Govt urged to hire more doctors, nurses for camps
National Organisation of Nurses and Midwifery (Nonm) and Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi (SMD) have asked the government to recruit some doctors and nurses to beef up health services delivery in the evacuation camps in the districts that have been affected by Cyclone Freddy.
The two organisations have also asked the government to stock health points established in the camps with adequate supplies to deal with some diseases such as cholera and scabies.
In an interview, Nonm president Shouts Simeza said currently their workforce is overwhelmed with patients in established hospitals and camps, hence the need to hire more workers.
Simeza said failure to reinforce the workforce could compromise health services delivery.
“The problem is that some of our members have been deployed in camps, bringing shortage in main hospitals where those who have been injured are taken to. Even in camps, the numbers of nurses are not convincing in as far as the need for providing quality health care is concerned.
“Let government engage us so that we can provide data of nurses that have not been employed but they are qualified to serve Malawians in camps and in health facilities,” Simeza said.
Speaking separately, SMD spokesperson Zaziwe Gundah said apart from hiring more healthcare workers, government and well-wishers should also provide more medical supplies and other items that can help ensure sanitation in the camps.
Gundah said due to congestion in some camps, there is high potential that the current cholera outbreak could worsen.
“We have deployed our members in the camps but they are not enough. We also need drugs in all the camps and hospitals so that people are treated accordingly.
“People suffering from cholera and scabies, including those suffering from hypertension and those taking ARVs are supposed to be looked at closely. It is not only food related items that people need,” he said.
Both Nonm and SDM are currently collecting data to find out the number of doctors and nurses that have been affected by the cyclone thus far.
