Nurses demand ‘a break’ after health troops recalled with ‘immediate effect’

“We need a break” – Russhid Golamaully, president of the Senior & Other Nursing Staff Association, has said.

His statement comes after the Ministry of Health issued a circular to cancel all Vacation Leaves and recall all hospital and other staffs “with immediate effect”… “to fight the pandemic.”

“You are hereby instructed to make arrangements for all Health Personnel to be recalled from their vacation leave with immediate effect…” read the circular MHE/MAT/NUSTF T3.

This was issued on November 16 by the Ministry’s Senior Chief Executive and addressed to the Regional Health Directors and Managers (Human Resources) of the island’s six public hospitals.

But the trade union said nurses can no longer keep the pace. “We all need a break because it’s a human right. I think this (circular) should not apply to those who are already on leave, as the vacations do not last forever,” he said.

The President of the Senior & Other Nursing Staff Association urged nurses across the country to “keep morale high so that we can overcome this crisis.”

The newspaper described the circular as “a sign of extreme distress”.

Some 139 additional people were tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.