Govt announces new work schedule for nurses

Harare, (New Ziana) – Government on Thursday announced a new light work schedule for nurses in a bid to ease pressure on them brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the new arrangement, nurses will only work for three days a week.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had agreed on the new work schedule at its meeting on Thursday.

“The new arrangement will minimise the period of continuous exposure to Covid-19 and at the same time ensuring continuity of service,” she told a post Cabinet briefing.

“The arrangement will see the introduction of three shifts as follows – 7AM to 1PM, 1 PM to 7PM and 7PM to – 7AM.”

She said the decision to change working hours followed consideration that nurses were working long hours under a “flexi-hours” arrangement that allowed them to be paid more money for the time they worked, a system which has since been disbanded.

Mutsvangwa said working conditions for all other health staff “revert to normal.”

Government is currently recruiting more health professionals in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The pandemic, which has killed hundreds of thousands and infected millions globally, has also affected Zimbabwe, which has to date recorded four deaths and 51 infections.

Government remains on high alert over the pandemic and is implementing strict measures, among them a nationwide lockdown and mandatory wearing of masks in public places, aimed at curtailing its spread.

Massive investments have also been made to revamp the health sector to ready it to effectively tackle the pandemic.
New Ziana