THE Masvingo City Council Health Department has been hard hit by shortage of staffs
following resignations, retirement and deaths.
The Department has proposed re-engaging four retired nurses and advertising for the
recruitment of four nurses, two Environmental Health Technicians and a waste management
officer.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer (Suzanne
Madamombe) on the Health Department’s staff issues. It was reported that the department
received seven resignations, one retirement and one death in the year 2022. It was reported
that the department was currently impacted negatively by lack of adequate staffing.
“In order to address the issue of inadequate staffing, the following were proposed: that four
retired nurses be engaged on locum, that four nurses’ posts be advertised for recruitment, that
Mr I. Zvinorova (Environmental Health Technician), be contracted annually as an extension
of employment, that the two posts of Environmental Health Technicians and one waste
management officer be advertised.
“The request was referred to the Human Resources and Gender Committee for
consideration,” reads part of the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee
minutes.
Madamombe has requested that the local authority engage the ward health clubs in the solid
waste management to augment the current staff as waste generation has increased around the
city.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Environmental Health Officer on the
request for manpower for solid waste management in the commonage.
“It was reported that the waste generation rate had increased and a proposal was made for the
department to engage Health Clubs to boost the current staff compliment and the clubs be
paid over time for one employee.”
Meanwhile, the local authority has recommended channelling the beer levy towards the
construction of a maternity wing at the recently completed Northwest Medical Clinic in
Runyararo West.
“In terms of the Traditional Beer Act, beer levy funds must be expended on social services
within the council area. The Committee adopted the recommendation for the usage of balance
in the Beer Levy account and remittances for 2023 for the construction of a Maternity Wing
at Northwest Medical Clinic to ensure a one-stop facility for medical services.”