By VOM News Team
Kisoro
A total of 67 Nurses Assistants working across various health facilities in Kisoro district have been advised to embrace the idea of forced retirement in June this year.
The decision comes following a directive from the Ministry of Public Service phasing out nursing assistants from public health service back in 2012.
Circular Standing Orders abolished the position of nursing assistant on 7th of November, 2012, however the position continued to exist until recently.
Kisoro district Chief Administrative Officer Hajji Badru Majwala Mayanja said none of the nursing assistants in the district will be expected to work beyond the month of June this year.
Nurses Assistants help patients with a wide range of basic needs, including eating, bathing, grooming and mobility.
Mayanja says, the Local Government has been patient enough by giving the health workers enough time to upgrade on their education, but it seems the call fell on deaf ears.
Retrenchment in Local Government is often necessary with the aim of restructuring and reviving service delivery in the country.
Voice of Muhabura has learnt that some of the health workers had threatened to take the matter to Court on the grounds that, their positions are ‘permanent and pensionable’.
The health workers insisted that the head of civil service in the district ensure they are not sent home emptied handed at the end of June.
Mayanja commended the health workers for their service towards the people of Kisoro and said pension along with gratuity will be secured for all workers who do not have any disciplinary issues.
He further called on the retrenched cadres to aspire to attain further education because of most of them are still energetic and can easily be absorbed back into service.
Kisoro District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Steven Nsabiyumva called on the health workers to use the remaining time at the health facilities to work diligently and respectfully to the In-charges to avoid leaving public service with a tainted record.
Relatedly,
A total of 22 COPE teachers working in Kisoro district are insecure about their future after the district said contract teachers are no longer recognized by Government.
COPE, which refers to complimentary Opportunity for Primary Education targets children and some adults who have never been to formal school.
The teachers claim that while attending St. Noa Mawaggali Busuubizi Primary Teachers College in Mityana district, for close to three years, they were never given an opportunity to sit for their final exams.
The COPE teachers say it will be unfair for the district to send them home without first recognizing their efforts to upgrade and also consider a good retirement package, lest they proceed with legal action against the district.
Hajji Badru Mayanja says at least 25 positions are available for teachers. Priority will however be given to any COPE teacher who attains grade III teachers’ status.
He further encouraged other civil servants to embrace further studies to avoid being caught off guard adding that the world is changing and those in public service must keep changing along with it.
Discussion about this post