Protest for axed healthcare workers

Cape Town - The Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa) is throwing its weight behind the fight to get all dismissed Community Healthcare Workers reinstated.

Hospersa said it would be demonstrating outside the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where dismissed community healthcare workers will be appearing after authorities arrested them last month for holding a peaceful night-time vigil outside Health MEC Benny Malakoane’s Office.

"We know the important role these workers play," Hospersa said in a statement. "They are the ones who visit bedridden patients, who support those taking ARVs, who offer vital counseling services - and we will fight for them to continue playing this role."

Hospersa said the Department of Health acknowledged that community healthcare workers played a critical role in the primary healthcare system and yet treated them as informal workers.

"Hospersa is demanding a national policy on community healthcare workers, which will ensure that their status is recognised and their working conditions improved."