Healthcare workers at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital protested against the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society due to poor service and high food prices at its kiosk. Key issues included the lack of essential amenities affecting hospital operations and the refusal to accept local currency. ZRCS acknowledged financial challenges yet refuted the allegations regarding service quality.
Healthcare workers at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare protested on Monday, highlighting issues with the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) due to inadequate services at its kiosk. The staff reported declining working conditions that hinder their ability to deliver quality care. Concerns were raised about the absence of electricity and running water, critical for hospital operations.
During the early morning protest, nurses displayed placards with messages like “No Water, No Power, No Care!” and “Our Patients Deserve Better.” They criticized the high prices of food at the ZRCS kiosk, which many found unaffordable. Additionally, they complained that cashiers at the kiosk do not accept local currency, only US dollars, which complicates transactions for hospital staff and patients.
A nurse from the hospital voiced, “The food at the Red Cross Kiosk is very expensive and not affordable for many of us as well as patients and ordinary people.” Another added, “The kiosk staff does not accept the local currency; they want us to pay in US dollars only.” The protest highlighted ZRCS’s failure to effectively fulfill its humanitarian mission.
Video footage from the demonstration showed nurses chanting against the high prices, calling for the closure of the kiosk. ZRCS Secretary-General Elias Hwenga stated he couldn’t comment on the protest specifics, asserting that the canteen offers reasonable services. He questioned the claims about service standards and highlighted ZRCS’s financial challenges, reporting a US$2 million debt, including unpaid employee taxes.
Despite allegations of failing to serve its mission, Hwenga denied the claims about the kiosk’s service quality and pricing. ZRCS functions as an auxiliary to the government as outlined in the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society Act No 30 of 1981, operating nationwide and contributing to the global Red Cross movement.
The protest at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital underscores significant issues regarding the services provided by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, particularly the kiosk’s affordability and payment methods. Healthcare workers are facing deteriorating conditions, impacting patient care. ZRCS, amid financial struggles, must address these concerns to maintain its humanitarian role effectively. Continued engagement and dialogue between the hospital staff and ZRCS are essential to rectify these issues.
Original Source: www.newsday.co.zw
