Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambican Health Minister Ussene Isse has called on health professionals to be vigilant against the theft and misappropriation of medical supplies in the National Health System (SNS).
The minister, who was speaking at a meeting on Wednesday with a group of nurses based in the Greater Maputo metropolitan region, declared that stopping the theft of medical supplies demands discipline from all professionals. “Actions against wrong behaviour allow citizens to regain confidence in the health service”, he added.
“I ask for your help in controlling theft, since a great deal of medicines are stolen from hospitals. When we look at what the State buys, there’s enough medication for everyone, even a surplus, but when the medication arrives at the hospital, it’s all gone in less than 15 days”, said the Minister.
According to the Minister, the health professionals play a relevant role in patients’ lives “and we, as nurses, must serve the Mozambican population with love, affection, sympathy, respect, and humility.”
“The nurses must know how to listen to patients and allow them to express their problems”, said Usse, adding that “sometimes the patient arrives at the hospital, but the nurse is talking on the phone, or is fiddling with the phone and listening to music”.
During the meeting, the nurses called on the government to intervene in their career progression. “We are trampled on and humiliated by doctors”, one participant said. “Furthermore, doctors see us as their servants, and this hurts us a lot. As a newcomer to nursing, it makes me want to quit, unfortunately”.
In response to the concerns raised, the minister said that the government is already working to ensure solutions to the problems of over 75,000 health professionals, including 22,000 nurses across the country. The problems under consideration include unfair treatment, lack of work materials and medical supplies and delays in the payment of overtime.
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