HEALTHCARE workers at the Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban held a protest over the lack of personal protective gear.
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The workers accused the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health suppressing the scale of the Covid-19 outbreak in the hospital.
Amanda Zulu, provincial secretary of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union, said there were over 100 healthcare workers infected with Covid-19.
The Department of Health, which is the only authority to confirm Covid-19 cases has not responded to questions sent by Berea Mail.
Last week, Dr Thandeka Khanyile, Chief Executive Officer of Albert Luthuli Hospital, said there were 42 staff members who had tested positive for Covid-19.
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In their memorandum of demands to Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, Nehawu said the hospital management has lost the battle in protecting their workers against the virus.
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“Our view is that the management in this facility seem to have not only lost the battle in containing the spread of the virus but is failing to present a coherent plan in response to the crisis we are currently facing,” read the memo.
HERE are some of Nehawu’s demands
* A shut down of the hospital for thorough decontamination and disinfection
* All staff working in theatre and trauma units to be give the same PPE as those in Covid-19 wards
* The end of preferential treatment towards doctors when it comes to testing for Covid-19
* For nurses to not be overworked by being assigned a lot of patients.
* Better communication from managers
* A moratorium on all elective theatre cases. Only emergency cases only.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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