Hospital cleaners wary of dirty linen

CLEANERS at the Oshakati State Hospital say they are concerned about their health, because they are expected to wash soiled linen with their bare hands.

One of the cleaners told The Namibian at Oshakati yesterday that while the Ministry of Health and Social Services was striving to keep the nation healthy, the very same Ministry was putting their health at risk. “Some of the linen has blood and faeces on it and we have to wash that with our hands,” said the cleaner.She said because of staff shortages some cleaners have to serve food to patients after washing the linen.There is a dry-cleaning facility at the hospital, but linen is first hand-washed before being sent there.The Chief Control Officer at the hospital, Ben Iifugula, yesterday referred enquiries to the Director of Health in the North, Dr Naftali Hamata, who could not be reached for comment.”Some of the linen has blood and faeces on it and we have to wash that with our hands,” said the cleaner.She said because of staff shortages some cleaners have to serve food to patients after washing the linen.There is a dry-cleaning facility at the hospital, but linen is first hand-washed before being sent there.The Chief Control Officer at the hospital, Ben Iifugula, yesterday referred enquiries to the Director of Health in the North, Dr Naftali Hamata, who could not be reached for comment.