Cape Town – Nursing union the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) says it is angered by the second Covid-19-related death to hit the fraternity in the province.
Tygerberg Hospital nurse Ntombizakithi Ngidi’s death follows that of 62-year-old Petronella “Aunty Nellie” Benjamin, who was laid to rest last week. Benjamin died one day before her retirement date.
Denosa spokesperson Sibongiseni Delihlazo said it was “angering that nurses were contracting and now dying of the virus”.
“It’s extremely angering to have nurses who contract and die from the Covid-19 after we as an organisation have been bringing to the attention of the Department of Health the urgent need to ensure maximum protection of nurses and health workers.
"The death of the two nurses highlights two significant areas that employers
must amend (in) their management
style towards staff in the face of this
Covid-19 pandemic.”
He said managers needed to be
more reasonable and understand the
real risks that nurses faced.
“The Western Cape has become
the epicentre of the Covid-19 in
South Africa and, as such, healthcare facilities need to be protected
and be fumigated sufficiently.
"We
get reports of nurses who, when
they present symptoms and have to
self-isolate, are bizarrely made to do
so from their annual leave days and
from special leave. This is double
victimisation and it is not acceptable
– whoever is doing it must stop it.
“The nurses must also not be
victimised further by employers who
would want proof that health-care
workers have been infected in the
workplace, as we have been told that
some are doing.”
Premier Alan Winde asked people
to keep health-care workers in their
thoughts.
“As we mark International
Nurses Day, we will honour these
two women for their commitment
and their care. All of our health-care
workers are heroes on the front
lines, and we thank them for their
selflessness and their commitment…
"Each and every death should be a
stark reminder of the role we all have
to play in flattening this curve so
that we can protect our health-care
workers, and all of our vulnerable,
elderly or sick residents.”