By A Correspondent- Some nurses have resigned from Zimbabwe’s main COVID-19 isolation center, Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital, and moved on to private hospitals that are reportedly paying salaries in US dollars.

Nurses’ morale at the Harare City Council-run institution is at an all-time low, hence the nurses are moving to St Anne’s Hospital in Harare’s Avondale suburb and Arundel Hospital in Mount Pleasant which are paying around US$75 per day.

According to The Independent:

“People have been really trying, but after working so much we are getting peanuts.

The morale is really low. Right now, we are closed and yet to open again when the renovations are finished, but there is nothing to be excited about. We just got our peanuts.

The staff here have not been getting any allowances and have been working with limited protective clothing. Some people decided that it is better to leave and go where they are paying in US dollars. Four nurses left and only 16 remain, but three more will be going soon.”

Zimbabwe Nurses Association secretary-general Enock Dongo has appealed for the provision of more PPE (personal protective equipment) and the training for nurses on COVID-19 as it is new and not known by people.

Zimbabwe has 9 confirmed COVID-19 positive cases and this has been attributed to the low test rest which according to Health director in the City of Harare Dr Prosper Chonzi, is at 96 tests per day.