Nurses demand axing of Windhoek Central head

A GROUP of nurses staged a demonstration in Windhoek yesterday calling for the removal of the head of the Windhoek Central Hospital, Dr Helen Nkandi-Shiimi.

They claimed health standards at the Windhoek Central Hospital have deteriorated under her management. The demonstrators also accused Dr Nkandi-Shiimi of not wanting to improve working conditions of employees.”We need a management that is seen to do something, a management prepared to direct the service and not the one that knows only travelling and playing computer games.It is not good to wash our dirty linen in public, but because we are forced by the situation, we shall today set the cat in a cage of pigeons,” said Abner Shopati, who spoke on behalf of the nurses.Shopati is the Secretary General of the Namibia Nurses Union which organised the demonstration.They handed over a petition to the hospital’s management and it was received by Acting Chief Control of Registered Nurses Sarafia Katjivirue.She promised to pass on their concerns to Health Minister Richard Kamwi.The nurses claimed that Nkandi-Shiimi was a “habitual latecomer” to work who has no time for her work, resulting in delays of activities that need her immediate attention and signature.”Medical doctors reporting directly to her office are suing one another.This embarrassing scenario never happened before in Windhoek Central Hospital.Has she stepped up her supervisory function, this professional jealousy could be picked up and remedial actions could be taken to avert the situation,” Shopati said.They claimed the medical equipment in some departments were not functional while a basic necessity such as warm water for patients was scarce.”Infection control is compromised here.A surgical ward without water is a danger,” Shopati said.The Windhoek Central Hospital is the State’s most important hospital but lacks things like suction bottles for patients who need elective surgery.”What do you expect the nurses to do? To suck with their mouths?” he asked.He said some wards have malfunctioning oxygen blenders while linen and blankets were in short supply and patients were trying to cope with pain and winter.The nurses called on the Minister of Health to remove Nkandi-Shiimi from her position within a month.”Failure to adhere to our demands we view as sabotage of Government efforts and an honourable exit (by Kamwi) shall be the best option.Alternatively, we shall be forced to mobilise ourselves and other health professionals countrywide demanding the exit of the Honourable Minister of Health and the entire executive,” Shopati said.The demonstrators also accused Dr Nkandi-Shiimi of not wanting to improve working conditions of employees.”We need a management that is seen to do something, a management prepared to direct the service and not the one that knows only travelling and playing computer games.It is not good to wash our dirty linen in public, but because we are forced by the situation, we shall today set the cat in a cage of pigeons,” said Abner Shopati, who spoke on behalf of the nurses.Shopati is the Secretary General of the Namibia Nurses Union which organised the demonstration. They handed over a petition to the hospital’s management and it was received by Acting Chief Control of Registered Nurses Sarafia Katjivirue.She promised to pass on their concerns to Health Minister Richard Kamwi.The nurses claimed that Nkandi-Shiimi was a “habitual latecomer” to work who has no time for her work, resulting in delays of activities that need her immediate attention and signature.”Medical doctors reporting directly to her office are suing one another.This embarrassing scenario never happened before in Windhoek Central Hospital.Has she stepped up her supervisory function, this professional jealousy could be picked up and remedial actions could be taken to avert the situation,” Shopati said.They claimed the medical equipment in some departments were not functional while a basic necessity such as warm water for patients was scarce.”Infection control is compromised here.A surgical ward without water is a danger,” Shopati said.The Windhoek Central Hospital is the State’s most important hospital but lacks things like suction bottles for patients who need elective surgery.”What do you expect the nurses to do? To suck with their mouths?” he asked.He said some wards have malfunctioning oxygen blenders while linen and blankets were in short supply and patients were trying to cope with pain and winter.The nurses called on the Minister of Health to remove Nkandi-Shiimi from her position within a month.”Failure to adhere to our demands we view as sabotage of Government efforts and an honourable exit (by Kamwi) shall be the best option.Alternatively, we shall be forced to mobilise ourselves and other health professionals countrywide demanding the exit of the Honourable Minister of Health and the entire executive,” Shopati said.