It represented the darkest of our dark history, in the abysmal depths of the Covid pandemic, when we bear witness to the abundance of People’s Progressive Party (PPP), long catalogue of arrogance. For the nurses were concerned, and rightly so, about the unapproved vaccines that were being administered. Since as healthcare professionals, they were all too aware, World Health Organisation (WHO) having appraised Covid vaccines, compiled a list of those recommended and approved.
But PPP being drunk on arrogance, disregarded WHO approved vaccines, as they went to a Middle Eastern middleman, to purchase the unapproved Sputnik-V. And with this purchase PPP evidenced, they cared less about safety and effectiveness, as they demanded we the populace accept the unapproved vaccines, without question. Where any not compliant with this PPP COVID decree, faced the consequences of being locked out from government buildings, even as they were publicly named and shamed.
But our nurses being highly trained medical professionals, are knowledgeable about the rigours of vaccines testing, which underpinned safety and effectiveness. As a result, when PPP presented with their cowboy Covid medicine, with unapproved vaccines, the nurses rightly objected. And for their objections, they were duly punished, by being locked out of the hospitals, exposed to the elements, even as they were also named and shamed.
However, as PPP named, shamed and abused our nurses, foreign recruiters were ingratiating them, opening their eyes to the reality, PPP abuses weren’t consistent with good Human Resource practices. Further, the foreign recruiters reminded the nurses, the PPP remuneration, is nothing short of pittance, compared to the significantly higher monthly income, they have on offer. Then the nurses were duly informed, if they make the expedition overseas, they are guaranteed a life of milk, honey and respect.
And that’s all the nurses needed to hear and know, for in minimal time, they were resigning en masse, as they boarded to leave, on the iron eagle. As a result, the recurrent consequences we faced, and once again painfully endured, in 2023. That is, at least 146 nurses resigned from GPHC, even as the very GPHC, reported that they are desperately short of over 600 nurses. Where the nurses shortage that afflicts GPHC, with its origin in their poor treatment and policies of PPP, is reflected in hospitals nationwide.
Mark’s Take
Then with the nurses leaving in droves, the clueless PPP, forever reactive rather than proactive, rolled out a grand plan, to increase nurses training numbers. But such a plan, which faces an inevitable failure, only evidence their paucity of ideas, as it pertains to this nursing crisis. For the nurses shortage, isn’t one of supply, rather it’s an issue of PPP inability to retain trained nurses. Which is down to a combination of factors, more so the poor treatment of nurses, with case in point, them being locked out of the hospitals during the Covid pandemic. Moreover, what can’t be ignored, is the poor remuneration, health policies and working conditions, as factors driving these en masse resignations.
Which means, attempting to remedy the nursing crisis, by only increasing nurses training numbers, isn’t dissimilar to placing more water into a bottomless bucket, desperate to fill it. For the volume of water would continue to decrease, despite increased supply, since that added would simply escape. As a result, before the water volume could evidence an increase, the bottomless bucket would’ve to be first mended. Likewise, before our nurses’ numbers could ever stop decreasing, there would’ve to be remedial policies, to address the factors that are causing them to leave.
Where some of these policies should include, but not limited to, a Human Resource Consultant to develop policies and guidelines, aimed at addressing the brain drain of nurses and other health professionals. For this Human Resource input in the Health Ministry, could work in conjunction with increased nurses training numbers, with a view to addressing the deficit.
However, such counsel the cluelessly brainless PPP is likely to disregard, even as they continue along the unimaginative path, of only increasing nurses’ training numbers, in an attempt to remedy this nurse’s shortage crisis. But the reality is, these very nurses will find their way out on the next flight, if there are no remedial policies to address this slavishly inhumane healthcare system. And with them perennially seeking out the next flight, it’s almost certain, their numbers will continue to decrease, under this visionless PPP. Likewise, this temporary fix with Cuban nurses is most certain to fail, because of communication and cultural barriers.
