Midwives and nurses at Sally Mugabe downed tools after their colleague, a Matron at the institution, succumbed to COVID-19 in the early hours of Thursday, January 7, 2021.

The midwives on Thursday refused to enter the hospital premises until the issue of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is resolved.

Said Samson Gurupira, a representative of the Nurses Association of Zimbabwe:

It is true that the nurses are outside as we speak but all that they are asking for are protective equipment so that they can also execute their duty without endangering their lives. A matron died today morning from Covid-19 and this is someone who does mostly supervisory work.

It is only proper that the nurses who are in direct contact with patients are given PPEs so that they can also protect themselves. The nurses have only been given face masks and nothing else and this presents with it a lot of risks because they will likely catch the virus and transmit it to their families.”