We will not submit to threats: Haufiku

WINDHOEK, 06 JUL (NAMPA) – Minister of Health and Social Services, Bernard Haufiku on Thursday expressed disappointment at the fact that foreign nurses are being threatened by Namibians.
According to the minister, some of the foreign nurses employed by the ministry have been threatened by Namibian staff members and hence, have asked the government to terminate their contracts as soon as possible.
“The ministry is however not going to comply to such threats and let these nurses go just because certain individuals are not happy. We will just use the right procedures to handle this situation,” Haufiku said.
He noted that the ministry will deal with the issue of expatriate nurses being made to feel uncomfortable for doing their job.
“We are handling the process in a manner that will not create animosity and put us in litigation, it is not just something I can decide on my own and let people go,” he said.
Haufiku said anyone found making these threats will face disciplinary action as no one has the right to threaten another person.
He emphasised that the ministry’s outreach programmes will continue until it can capacitate district hospitals which need these foreign staff members to do the work required by the ministry.
The Health Ministry last year decided to suspend all appointments and extensions of contracts of non-Namibians, but made a U-turn on the decision and said it would deal with expatriate nurses on a case-by-case basis.
Haufiku said as much as the ministry wants to deal with complaints by local nurses seeking employment, there are currently no funds to do so.
“The ministry would like to employ all these unemployed people but there is currently a constraint. However we are hard at work to find ways to find a solution to this problem.”
He added that the ministry has compiled a list of people next in line for employment as soon as funds are available and vacancies are open.
(NAMPA)