Mafeteng, April 03 –The Minister of Health Mr. Selibe Mochoboroane says no Country can win a battle fighting with hungry frontliners.
This, he said during the launch of Integrated Health Services at Mafeteng Referral Hospital on Monday where he highlighted the need for the ministry to strengthen Integrated Primary Health Care through prevention of diseases and provision of quality health services for healthy living of members of the community.
Mr. Mochoboroane said as part of efforts in ensuring that all debts involving Village Health Workers countrywide are being paid the ministry’s Human Resource Office from Headquarters have started headcount campaign to address the problem of employees being paid but not reporting to work.
He indicated that Village Health Workers (VHW) are the most hardworking people within health system in the country since they are the ones taking care of patients before being referred to any health facility and even after.
“It is important that these workers be paid on monthly basis rather than being paid quarterly like how it has been happening,” he said.
The Minister informed the nurses who were recruited during Covid-19 crisis that they are government employees and should not panic as no one will be expelled from the ministry regardless of the financial situation of the country, adding that the country currently needs professional nurses and doctors, promising that the identity cards for village workers are also being prepared including health kits to strengthen their service delivery.
He said as the minister of health he has signed appraisal contract through prioritizing four major needs which are strengthening both Primary Health Care countrywide, Ts’epong Referral Hospital through providing it with professional human resource, and equipment, construction of centre of cancer and medical school.
Speaking at the same occasion the Director General form the Ministry of Health Dr. ‘Nyane Letsie said the ministry has been in Primary Health Care for a long time trying to fight and preventing both communicable and non-communicable diseases affecting members of the community, saying even though they have been working tirelessly they have missed an important part of learning approach of patients.
Dr. Letsie urged the staff to approach with care, saying by so doing they will defeat the battle against various disease which are killing people in large numbers in the country such as tuberculosis, cervical cancer and other diseases attacking members of the community.
On behalf of Village Health Workers Ms. Selloane Ramorena requested the ministry to provide them with trainings that will help them to take care of patients with various diseases before and after visiting nearby health facilities.
Ms. Ramorena also pleaded with the ministry to provide them with health kits to strengthen their day to day provision of health services and be paid their arrears.
She also requested the minister through the hospital management to review the issuance of blue card that they used to use to attain free health services if and when in need as well as other incentives that they use to have such as airtime.
on the other hand, the Professional Nurse Representative Maleshoane Hlephe requested the minister through Human Resource to recruit more nurses as there is more work and low personnel.
Ms. Hlephe said being nurses who were recruited during Covid-19 crises they are afraid of being expelled as even today thy have not singed any document confirming their service as ministry’s employees.
Integrated Primary Health Care Service is intended to strengthen is intended to prevent diseases through building the nation free from diseases.
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