BRING BACK FACE MASKS - SOME HEALTH WORKERS

SITEKI – Some health care workers have proposed the return of face masks amid fears of the infectious COVID-19 sub-variant XBB.1.5 of Omicron, which has been recorded in neighbouring South Africa.

The workers were speaking in an interview on condition of anonymity. One worker from a public clinic around Siteki said they had proposed to their superiors that the wearing of masks be reinstated to ensure their safety as front line workers. The nurse said they had also established that the sub-variant of Omicron was infectious and emaSwati were not spared from it as there was no control of the movement of people, particularly those using informal crossings. He said government had to reconsider the wearing of masks as a precautionary measure to protect the workers.

Prevented

“It is so hurting that the lives of nurses and health care workers are not taken serious by government because action should have been taken by now to ensure that the health care staff members are prevented from infection by this sub-variant of Omicron, which we were told is very dangerous. “The wearing of masks should be reinstated as we also proposed such action to our superiors and hope they will report our grievance to the ministry,” said the nurse. Another nurse from Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital (GSCH) said the institution had been promoting the wearing of face masks for the staff and patients. “At the hospital, we wear masks but once you have knocked off from work, you can do away with it. Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital did not discard the wearing of masks as even now all patients are given free masks at all entry points of the health care facility. Government should reinstate this measure,” said the nurse.

Adding, the nurse said the wearing of masks should be taken serious as a preventive measure in controlling the spread of the virus. “We cannot turn a blind eye to this matter as we have learnt a lesson, as a nation, when prominent figures succumbed to the ravaging virus. It is important that we put our lives first and wear masks,” the health care worker emphasised.
Dr Simon Zwane, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, has allayed fears among the health care workers, mentioning that the ministry was working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to monitor the situation. The PS said the ministry had the authority to handle health issues and if there were any changes regarding this subject matter, the ministry would communicate any developments to the nation.

Panic

Zwane said the health care workers should not panic but continue promoting vaccination among patients. “The WHO is guiding us on this matter and any developments will be communicated to the nation,” he said. Worth mentioning is that Minister Lizzie Nkosi had also indicated that the sub-variant of Omicron might be circulating in the country due to the kingdom’s proximity to South Africa. She said the ministry was monitoring the circulation through countless genomic sequencing conducted through local samples.

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