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The Ministry of Health has dashed the hopes of hundreds of former COVID-19 frontline workers seeking permanent employment, saying it is unable to absorb them because of financial constraints.
In a response to a petition submitted by the former workers following a march to the Ministry in June, Acting Permanent Secretary Dr Tshepo Machacha said the Ministry's hands are tied by both the unavailability of vacant positions and the country's deteriorating financial situation.
'You will note that the ministry's challenge is further exacerbated by the unfavourable financial position of the country and, consequently, of the Ministry.
We remain hopeful that should the financial situation improve, this submission will be given further thought,' Machacha said.
He acknowledged that while the ministry continues to battle an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, experienced healthcare workers remain unemployed.
'This is, as earlier alluded to, primarily due to the Ministry's unfavourable financial position,' he said.
Meanwhile, the former COVID-19 frontline workers have rejected the Ministry's response, arguing that it fails to address the issues they raised in their petition.
Speaking to The Midweek Sun this week, representatives of the group said they were disappointed that the response came from officials they had not directly petitioned.
'We do not accept this response. We intend to meet the Assistant Minister of Health, Lawrence Ookeditse, because our petition has been responded to by people we had not written to. We want
Ookeditse to come and respond to our queries,' they said.
The response comes weeks after approximately 600 former COVID-19 frontline workers marched to the Ministry of Health headquarters demanding to be absorbed into the public health system.
The workers argued that they continue to carry the physical, emotional and financial burden of serving during one of Botswana's most difficult periods, only to find themselves unemployed after their contracts ended in 2022.
Addressing the gathering during the petition handover, group leader Lebesani Male said many of the former workers risked their lives daily while caring for COVID-19 patients under extremely difficult conditions.
'We were forced to attend to those affected by the virus and had to put on a brave face to calm them, even when we ourselves were scared,' Male said.
'People only saw what was happening from the outside. They did not experience the fear, panic and pressure we went through. We faced many challenges, but as professionals we found ways to move forward.'
Male said the sacrifices made by the frontline workers had gone unrecognised, with some of their colleagues having died while others continue to battle long-term health complications linked to their service during the pandemic.
Acknowledging the government's financial challenges, the group proposed a phased recruitment programme that would see at least 60 former frontline workers employed each year, saying even gradual absorption would demonstrate the government's commitment to recognising their service.
The workers also argued that Botswana's healthcare system continues to experience staff shortages, particularly in rural areas, and that the experienced former COVID-19 personnel could help bridge those gaps.
They further claimed that they served throughout the pandemic without insurance cover or risk allowances and were repeatedly assured that they would eventually be absorbed into permanent positions once their contracts expired.