Masiyiwa's Selective Rescue Package Alienates Doctors And Nurses

The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has urged the government to assume its responsibility of paying health workers to avoid conflict within the sector.

CWGH director Itai Rusike told the Daily News that the rift between nurses and doctors emanates from Higher Life Foundation’s (HLF) selective rescue package. Said Rusike:

The selective award of allowances to health workers has a demoralising effect on those that do not receive them, particularly in circumstances where the working hours and conditions are similar.

The fact that nurses are now demanding a similar rescue package arrangement demonstrates that the Higher Life Foundation arrangement is a stop-gap measure as the humanitarian foundation cannot fund salaries for all the health workers. That still remains the responsibility of the government.

Last year, Higherlife Foundation, an NGO founded by Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa offered to contribute towards doctors’ salaries in a bid to end the impasse between government and doctors.

The organisation offered to pay an extra monthly amount of ZWL$5,000 (US$310), a smartphone, transport and some medical equipment.

More: Daily News