Northern nurses join protest

DESPITE a threat from Health Minister Richard Kamwi that nurses who took part in yesterday’s protest marches would face disciplinary action, nurses in the North turned out in large numbers.

At Oshakati, about 300 nurses led by the regional co-ordinator of the Namibia Nurses’ Union, Sister Eva Velikoshi, marched to the office of the regional Health Director, Dr Naftali Hamata, where they handed over a petition. Many cleaners from the Oshakati State Hospital joined the nurses’ march.The local office of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) did not cover the demonstration.According to Sister Velikoshi, the NBC had told her that it would not send reporters, claiming the protest was illegal.Veikoshi told The Namibian that nurses from the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital in the Oshikoto Region, Eenhana and Engela in Ohangwena Region and the Oshikuku Roman Catholic District Hospital in Omusati Region also took part .”We didn’t disturb the service to our patients.We are responsible nurses and have organised ourselves properly, so that our patients not suffer because of our demonstration.They were properly attended to during our demonstration,” Velikoshi said.Many cleaners from the Oshakati State Hospital joined the nurses’ march.The local office of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) did not cover the demonstration.According to Sister Velikoshi, the NBC had told her that it would not send reporters, claiming the protest was illegal.Veikoshi told The Namibian that nurses from the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital in the Oshikoto Region, Eenhana and Engela in Ohangwena Region and the Oshikuku Roman Catholic District Hospital in Omusati Region also took part .”We didn’t disturb the service to our patients.We are responsible nurses and have organised ourselves properly, so that our patients not suffer because of our demonstration.They were properly attended to during our demonstration,” Velikoshi said.