New health workers training department welcome but…

Dear Editor,

THE decision by Government to introduce a new department to carry out training programmes to specifically focus on health workers like nurses, is most welcome news.

Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya must be supported in these efforts because like he has correctly said, there is need for citizens to be healthy and productive.

It is also nice to learn that the newly created department would adequately handle the nursing and midwifery profession because this segment forms 67 percent of the health workforce.

But having said so, I wish also to earnestly appeal to Dr Chilufya to introduce a special training in the same department to do with professional health care for patients.

It is time, I think, for all health workers to exhibit professionalism when attending to patients and not the current rudeness we are experiencing.

The media is awash with stories of poor treatment of patients in our health centres which in some cases has resulted in people dying.

I remember the story of a mother who was left to bleed to death at Chilenje Level One hospital early this year after giving birth while health workers could not be bothered.

If such attitude will be allowed to be the order of the day in our hospitals and clinics, then the creation of this department will be a wasted effort.

Mothers who go to deliver in some of our clinics are subjected to treatment next to hell. They are shouted at, insulted in all manner and some are left to deliver on their own.

Otherwise the coming of this new department is welcome effort for as long as it will come with better and professional services to the people of Zambia.