Nurse aides form association
ZIMBABWE nurse aides have formed an independent organisation to represent their interests following concerns that they are not getting due recognition as health workers.
Nurse aides are some of Zimbabwe’s unsung heroes that continue to play a critical role in plugging the gaps in the healthcare system created by a massive brain drain of health professionals. Their work involves some of the most basic and often dirtiest duties in hospitals. They are also hired to look after elderly and or sick people that may have been discharged from hospitals and recommended for home-based care.
Chitungwiza born Yotamu Chagwada said the trials he endured as a nurse aide, and lack of recognition and representation by health unions motivated him and others to launch the Nurse Aid Association of Zimbabwe Trust (NAAZT).
“Many people regard nurse aides as nothing, without appreciating what we offer the community and the country at large. Also Female nurse aides are often abused, humiliated and harassed,” said Chagwada who is also the NAAZT coordinator.
“Nurse Aides in Zimbabwe are not recognised. We have no rights and our work is taken for granted. Even our salaries are not attractive as most people just pay what they want.
“Our employers are unaware of what our job entails and they end up giving us other jobs outside nurse aide duties such as gardening, scrubbing floors and cooking. That is what has informed our decision to form this association. Our purpose is to look after the welfare of our members, getting them jobs and ensuring that they get fair salaries and conditions of service,” Chagwada said adding that they were encouraging more of their members to join the association.
“We are establishing offices around all provinces and towns in the country and our head office is currently in Chitungwiza. Members can contact us on 0714 937 269.”
Chagwada said it was disheartening that they were not fairly recognised as are nurses and doctors in the fight against COVID yet they were really in the front of the frontline.
“Nurse Aides are also at the forefront in the health sector as they are tasked with duties of dressing wounds, assisting women in labour, recording and taking care of patients’ general needs,” he added.
Nurse aides play an important role in supporting nurses and doctors in human resource-limited settings.