Matheus David
Former Covid-19 volunteers at the State mortuary have been pleading with the Ministry of Health and Social Services to consider them for full time employment. On Tuesday, they gathered at the ministry of health to receive feedback from Executive Director Penda Ithindi.
Raymond Samuel, a former volunteer at Mutual Estate, stated that, that Ithindi promised them feedback within 30 days. “Now, 30 days have collapsed and they are hiding themselves in the offices. They are pushing us, go to this, go to that and since 2023, we have been demonstrating to the Office of Prime Minister, and then the Prime Minister gave us a letter with all the information, including that the minister has told the ministry that we must be fully employed back in the system. But these people, what they are trying to do, ever since we have been coming here, it’s only a different story. There is no positive story regarding our case.”
Former Covid-19 volunteer Elizabeth Thomas said, “We worked effortlessly, thinking of a better future. Life is difficult for us without work. some of us have kids, and some are breadwinners. We are hoping that the government will at least look at us in terms of employment, as we gave our best during the Covid-19 calamity. We just need any job in the government for survival.”
Nghipunya Thomas, further stated that, “It was not easy to work in the mortuary, but now we have experience. The Ministry of Health and Social Services need to review our unwavering support and at least reconsider us in future employment.”
Walters Kamaya, a PRO of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, said “The ministry is mobilising resources to be able to offer them normal recruitment. Also, the ministry has recruited some of the Covid-19 volunteers who have met the normal recruitment requirements. Equal chances are given to all Namibians in terms of employment, so the ministry is urging former Covid-19 employees to also apply for vacancies just like every unemployed citizen.”
– matheusshitongenidavid@gmail.com
Photo: Heather Erdmann