Residents of Otjozondjupa region who might have needed emergency services after 17h00 from yesterday have been left to their own devices as ambulance drivers stopped working overtime after 17h00.
Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs) and the drivers within the Grootfontein district are aggrieved by the nonpayment of their overtime. Authorities have so far only sent the grievance from the region to national offices with no end in sight for the crisis.
The workers confirmed yesterday that they have started with their action but have not heard from any of their superiors.
The workers say they have not been remunerated for October, November and December.
The group feels they are enduring long and strenuous shifts with no extra remuneration for work done past their normal working hours.
In a letter to the regional health director, the group penned their concerns saying, “staff members are sadly touched by the silence and lack of willingness to affect the overtime payment by the district.
Lack of communication by the regional director and respective subordinates, being aware of our concern and how to solve it is further aggravating the problem.”
ECPs and drivers have collectively decided that from yesterday until they receive a satisfactory response and their concerns are resolved, they would no longer work overtime, but rather work normal eight hours per day from 08h00 to 17h00.
One of the drivers, Marthen Alexander explained: “We work in shifts, 07h00 to 19h00, 07h00 to 13h00 and 13h00 to 19h00, which includes emergency call-outs to Windhoek and night shifts. We will now only concentrate on 08h00 to 17h00, so we do not accumulate more overtime hours.
“This is not a demonstration, this is not a strike, we are just working normal hours. We are not going to make overtime from there.”
This action would directly affect patients who would have emergencies outside of normal office hours.
“It is unfortunate that patients will be the most affected as we are not going to attend to any emergencies after hours,” read the correspondence to the media from the group.
Gideon Tjiuongua, who forms part of the group, indicated that this is not the first time they are denied overtime. A similar situation occurred in 2017, which led to only 40 hours per month being paid from the more than 140 hours accumulated.
In their memo to the media, they wrote, “this is a clear act of injustice and disregard towards us. It is now clear as daylight to us that our services are not that essential and, therefore, not worth prioritising when it comes to overtime remunerations. The onus now lies with our superiors to do the right thing. ”
Health regional director Gerbhardo Timotheus, said he is aware of the situation and that it is not only ECPs and drivers but also radiographers who are affected.
“There is no authorisation for them to be remunerated overtime. And it is not only our region. We will see how we will handle the situation or how we will address it,” said Timotheus.
He said the issue of overtime is not easy. “I cannot solve it at a regional level. It’s not a regional level issue. It is on national level in terms of the ministry,” stressed Timotheus. He hopes to engage not only the Grootfontein district but the entire region to find a possible solution.
The health director indicated that the executive director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services is aware of the issue.
“We have already submitted our request for authorisation for them to be remunerated but we did not get a response. The indication is that there are no funds available for now,” said Timotheus. He added that the funds might be available in the future.
Timotheus indicated that he responded to the group’s letter via email, but was unaware of their stance to only work from certain hours as from Monday. But looks forward to engaging with them accordingly.
Telling this reporter that “nevertheless, I am happy that you are picking up this thing. Just to alert our leaders to show that some of these services are critical. It’s always nice to communicate as a ministry and not leaving cases to the regions alone to deal with them.”
Concerned and touched by their grievances, Timotheus said that he understood their plight as they work overtime and aren’t remunerated.
The director said this is a genuine matter that has touched him.
“I can imagine if I was one of them, I would feel the same,” he said. He stressed that patients will be put first and that the community should not panic.
He is confident that his team after he has engaged them, an amicable solution would be reached.
“Whereby no life will be lost because of overtime. So, we will negotiate and engage one another,” he emphasised.
They should not worry as they will attend to those in need of emergency services.
Ministry of health executive director Ben Nangombe yesterday said he was not aware of the situation, but a meeting scheduled for today will provide him with a detailed report.