Govt employs 2, 500 health workers

THE Ministry of Health has employed 2,500 health workers during the just-ended recruitment exercise, Ministry spokesperson, Abel Kabalo has said.

Dr. Kabalo told the Daily Nation in an interview that the new employees have since been deployed to different health facilities across the country.

In April this, year President Edgar Lungu directed that 3, 400 health personnel be engaged to enhance measures aimed at curbing the spread of the covid-19 in the country.

Dr Kabalo said that following the Presidential directive, the Ministry of Health recruited 2, 500 health workers across the country.

He further disclosed that the recruitment exercise has since ended.

Dr Kabalo stated that the exercise was a success as key personnel were recruited after a thorough assessment of the needs across the country.

Meanwhile, an applicant in Chongwe said that the Ministry of Health had not provided adequate feedback to applicants and as such some were still waiting.

He appealed to Government to find a way of communicating to unsuccessful applicants to avoid speculation.

According to him, the President ordered for the recruitment of more than 3, 000 health workers and not the numbers that were being announced after the exercise.

He however stated that if the issue was about lack of resources, then Government should come up with a system of taking up some graduating health workers on internship.

He wondered why some form of incentives from the Covid-19 funds could not be directed towards engaging unemployed graduates.