No treatment for staff at Katutura hospital

THE Namibian Nurses Union says it is disgusted by a directive from the Katutura Intermediate Hospital’s administration barring its staff from seeking medical treatment there.

has seen an unconfirmed memo undersigned by the hospital medical superintendent Fady Ashmawy informing staff to seek treatment at private facilities instead.

In the memo, dated 7 October, Ashmawy expressed his concern over staff members receiving medical care at the hospital despite having medical aid.

“Please take note that sick leave certificates issued at Katutura hospital for the hospital staff members will not be accepted anymore.

“All staff members are therefore encouraged to make use of their medical aid and get treatment from private general practitioners when they fall sick and need medical care,” the memo reads.

could not get comment from the hospital or health executive director Ben Nangombe to confirm the authenticity of the memo.

However, the Namibia Nurses Union (Nanu) acting secretary general Junias Shilunga told The Namibian on Saturday that the memo was issued by the hospital administration.

Shilunga in fact released a statement on Friday saying the union is ‘shocked and greatly disgusted’ by the memo barring staff from seeking medical attention from public healthcare facilities.

He said that the hospital’s statement contradicts the health ministry’s core values and the patient charter.

“This simply means if a nurse falls ill or collapses on duty, then such a nurse must not receive medical assistance from his/her colleagues but she/ he must go to private hospital/clinic to receive medical attention,” said Shilunga.

The union called for Asmawy to retract his ‘ill advised’ directive and to allow the hospital staff to access medical attention from any hospital of their choice without any fear of retribution.

“If Dr Asymawy has no faith in his medical doctors or he is suspecting that his own doctors are not giving legit sick leave certificates, it is better for him to deal directly with them and not to compromise the health of innocent hospital staff,” said Shilunga.

The union further called on the minister of health Kalumbi Shangula to launch an urgent investigation on Asmawy’s conduct and root out the reasons for his mistrust of the hospital that he leads.

Nanu also advised staff members to continue seeking medical treatment at Katutura hospital.

“We call upon our nurses to continue seeking medical attention anywhere they prefer and no amount of plastic threats and draconian rules from Ashmawy should stop them in anyway whatsoever,” said Shilunga.