Help me fight corruption at CMS – Health PS
MANZINI – Ministry of Health Principal Secretary (PS) Khanya Mabuza has made a plea to nurses asking them to work with him in fighting corruption at the CMS.
The PS has vowed to protect all those who would come up with information that could lead to the culprits being apprehended.
The PS made the plea during the commemoration of the International Nurses Day, held at the International Tabernacle Church in Manzini yesterday.
Mabuza noted that there was rampant corruption at the Central Medical Stores (CMS), which had resulted in the persisting drug shortage crisis in the country.
While making his case, he asked for assistance from the nurses at their various centres to fight the corruption.
“Ngiyanicela, please, with all my heart ningibambise please with all my heart ngendzaba ye corruption at the CMS, ngiyanicela bo nurse,” pleaded Mabuza.
CORRUPTION
He said the level of corruption had become too high at the CMS and at the end of the day the nurses were the ones who were expected to address the patients and inform them that there are no drugs or medical supplies.
He pleaded with the nurses to report any suspicious activity pertaining drugs and assured them protection. He said apart from making their jobs difficult as professionals, the corruption led to the death of innocent patients, some of whom are their relatives as nurses.
The PS said everyone was aware of the people involved in the corrupt practices and the majority of them were not nurses. “We need to be conscious of the people who continue to get rich around you, yet you work with them and earn the same salary. We need to address this immediately,” he said.
Mabuza further welcomed the opportunity to address the nurses during their special day, where all their hard work was celebrated internationally. He revealed that he was a nurse by profession and was also there to commemorate International Nurses Day with his colleagues.
He pointed out that in his eight years in office as the PS, and over the past months, there was a lot that he had seen. “Mine is to say, there is a lot that needs to be addressed for the interests of the health workers, in particular nurses,” he said.
BURDEN
Mabuza said looking at the time ratio, nurses spent about 90 per cent of their time with patients that meant the burden of health weighed more heavily on the nurses’ shoulders within the health sector.
He assured the nurses that during his time in office, he has had engagements with the nurses’ executive, where they deliberated on a number of issues. “Mine is to say as a ministry, we are all out to support you because we know your grievances,” he said.
He, however, recognised that it was not enough to just know about the grievances but the most important thing was to address them. Mabuza said during his career, he spent most of his time in the HIV sector, and said if it was not for nurses, the country would not have achieved the 95:95:95 status.
He also recognised the work that was done by the health workers who were frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they also played a pivotal role.
Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President Nokuthula Dlamini assured their commitment to fighting corruption. She, however, mentioned that, as nurses, they were at the end of the service and were not involved in procurement.
“As much as we are assuring our commitment to assist you fight the corruption, there is little we can do because we are at the end of the chain, but we are with you as this affects all our lives,” she said.
She further mentioned that it was about time as nurses that they demanded quality public health for all and not just themselves, to show that they are not selfish but care about public health in general.
She, however, stated that they would also continue to fight for their COVID-19 allowances, which they were still to receive to date.