Nurses Look To Court For Protection
Pini Bothoko | Monday June 17, 2019 15:18
The issue of violence against nurses is increasing, but government is not keen to implement what it had promised the union to do for nurses working late.
Last year April a female nurse was raped whilst on duty at Extension II clinic in Gaborone and some have reportedly suffered abuse at the hands of patients. On Friday criminals invaded Broadhurst 3 clinic early in the morning and stole nurses and patients’ mobile phones. BONU president, Obonolo Rahube said they are going to seek court intervention on the matter.
“The government had promised us that it would install CCTV cameras, beef up security, improve lighting, cutting trees around clinics and repair fence in clinics. Especially those which are operating 24 hours and that they will transport those nurses from their homes to clinics,” Rahube said.
“All these things had not been done. These problems are countrywide and we have more than 15 cases reported. Some of the nurses are raped while on duty.”
The union president said the government is not doing enough to protect nurses working odd hours.
Following the last year’s rape incident, the Ministry of Health and Wellness was forced that same day to cut the clinic’s 24 hours service to eight hours.
In a media release from the ministry’s permanent secretary, Ruth Maphorisa, she advised patients to seek some health services from Gaborone West and Old Naledi clinics whilst out patient services to be sought from Extension II and Julia Molefhe clinics. Meanwhile, the Botswana Police Service’s (BPS) deputy public relations officer, Senior Superintendent Near Bagali confirmed the incident saying a group of seven lads invaded the clinic early in the morning. They threatened nurses and patients instructing them to hand over their mobile phones.
“The culprits who threatened them with sharp objects also assaulted the security guard who sustained minor injuries. They walked away with three mobile phones from three nurses, a phone from a patient and went outside to attack another person who was waiting for a patient in the car and instructed her to also hand over her phone,” Bagali said.
Bagali said investigations on the matter are ongoing to locate the culprits and retrieve the five stolen mobile phones.
He expressed a deep serious concern over criminal activities that medical personnel continue to suffer from members of the public.