THIRTY-TWO more nurses at Mpilo Central Hospital in
Bulawayo have tested positive for Covid-19, forcing authorities to outsource
personnel to cover the gap as some health workers are on strike.
Those who tested positive are all from the opportunistic
infections (OI) department within the hospital and the development comes amid a
nationwide nurses’ strike which enters day 38 today.
Mpilo is the only operational referral hospital for the
southern region at the moment after a decision was made to set aside United
Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for Covid-19 patients, pending completion of renovations
at designated health centres; Ekusileni Medical Centre, Thorngrove Infectious
Diseases Hospital and Old Bartley Memorial Block (BMB) within UBH.
Last month, four nurses tested positive at Mpilo a
situation which left 197 of their colleagues quarantined.
Health workers have been greatly exposed to Covid-19 and
115 had been infected by last Friday in Bulawayo alone, with over 300 having
been infected countrywide.
The additional 32 nurses from Mpilo tested positive on
Saturday. They all have been isolated and are awaiting follow up
visits from the department of health services.
Acting Mpilo chief executive officer Professor Solwayo
Ngwenya said he was working with health partners to outsource more nurses due
to the strike and the latest nurses Covid-19 positive cases.
He said 18 other nurses who were isolated last month after
testing positive were back at work but the national strike is affecting service
delivery.
“We are shocked to discover that an additional 32 of our
health care workers were recently infected and tested positive to Covid-19 on
Saturday. The department involved will rather not close because it will put
thousands and thousands at risk if they do not get care. The nurses are now in
isolation and we are working on disinfecting the area and outsource nurses with
the help of our partners to help fill the gap until these ones recover,” said
Prof Ngwenya.
He said Mpilo officials are working tirelessly to keep the
department running so that thousands have access to health care.
Prof Ngwenya said the virus is spreading like a raging fire
and every one is potentially a Covid-19 carrier; hence people must comply with
lockdown measures.
He said the new World Health Organisation guidelines allow
nurses to return to work after 10 days of self-isolation.
“The guidelines state that after 10 days of isolation the
person is no longer infectious and can safely return to work. This is quite a
sensible guideline because if we were too strict in our scenario, we would
close down,” said Prof Ngwenya.
Asked why nurses are continuing to test positive in large
numbers, he said people should understand that Covid-19 is in the community and
is not only found in hospitals.
“Nurses come from all over Bulawayo and they use the same
public transport and supermarkets used by members of the public. Everyone is
exposed to Covid and it is not like they got it from the hospital because it’s
also there in the community.
“Nurses also live in the community and we should get that
right as there is no point in believing that Covid-19 is only found in
hospitals.
“It is only that those nurses were tested at one go and
found to be positive. My reminder is that Covid is everywhere and nearer to all
of us than we think it is,” he added.
Prof Ngwenya said members of the public should change
behaviours when using public transport or when in public spaces.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Mr Enock Dongo said
it was worrying to note that nurses constitute the highest number of Covid-19
confirmed cases in Zimbabwe.
He said more than 300 nurses have been infected while
saving lives as frontliners.
Mr Dongo said the situation will only improve when nurses
have access to personal protective equipment (PPE).
“It is scary to note that health care workers continue
risking their lives while working without adequate PPE. For example, a few days
ago at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare, 60 Covid-19 patients were admitted and
a few days later 70 nurses tested positive,” he said.
“There must be adequate PPE to protect nurses and all
health workers so that they do not in turn spread the disease to members of the
public who will be seeking care.” Chronicle
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