Council cautions nurses, midwives

Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (NMCM) has warned that it will discipline nurses and midwives who are staging strikes, saying the tendency is an infringement of not only their pledge of service but the right to life of innocent people.

For about three weeks now, the media has been awash with stories of nurses and midwives downing their tools in protest against their management or an increase in allowances they get for working on locum. So far, Kamuzu Central, Zomba Central and Kasungu District hospitals have been affected by the strikes.

However, addressing journalists, NMCM director Martha Mondiwa hit at the striking nurses and midwives calling them a disgrace to the health profession.

“Much as we at times appreciate the reasons behind the strikes, as a regulatory body we cannot and will not condone such ill-behaviour,” said Mondiwa.

She said nurses and midwives are the backbone of the health sector in the country; hence, their strike has dire consequences on the lives of people and the nation as a whole.

“It is for this reason that we are encouraging people to complain to us if the recent strikes have led to loss of life of their loved ones or one developing major complications,” said Mondiwa.