NURSES IN DANGER
No CCTV cameras in health facilities’ hotspot areas for crime
The much awaited move to install CCTV cameras in health facilities around the country in order to assist indentify those who either rape or abuse nurses does not seem set to solve the prevailing problem as such cameras will not be placed in consulting rooms.
Many offences that have been committed against nurses in government medical facilities at night have happened inside consultation rooms, but a decision has been made to install the cameras everywhere else within the premises and buildings of healthcare facilities, but not inside the said consultation rooms.
The reason is simple. The cameras will compromise patients’ privacy and confidentiality. The decision means health workers and female nurses doing night duty will continue to be at risk of harassment and, or at worst rape or being killed inside healthcare facilities.
In the past , government and Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) clashed after female nurses doing night duty were either harassed or raped in a place where they had gone to render life saving services for the nation.
Among the most shocking and distressing cases is of a nurse who was murdered at Radisele clinic in 2014 and another being raped in Gaborone at Extension II clinic. These incidents and many others led to BONU threatening to take government to court.
Member of Parliament for Mahalapye West, David Tshere asked Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Edwin Dikoloti to state if he is aware that health workers, especially nurses experience abuse, attacks and worst of all rape inside consultation rooms in health facilities across the country; and if so, what the ministry was doing to address the situation.
Minister Dikoloti confirmed that his ministry was aware of the dangers the healthcare workers face, especially at night. He said these attacks happen mostly in 24-hour facilities even where security has been outsourced. He said his ministry has partnered with Botswana Police Services (BPS) to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in 24-hour healthcare facilities as an add-on to available security.
The project is aimed at achieving high levels of safety and security for health workers, vital equipment and supplies.
“The pro j e ct i s planned for implementation in a phased approach starting with 24- hour facilities in Greater Gaborone and Francistown, including Princess Marina Hospital and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital as the first phase.”
“I would like to highlight that CCTV cameras are not going to be installed inside the consultation rooms for privacy and confidentiality reasons. However, other security measures such as panic buttons will instead be installed in consultation rooms and other clinical areas” the minister said.
He said implementation of the project is expected to commence during the 2020/2021 financial year as part of the Botswana Police Service Safer City Project.