Own Correspondent|The situation at Harare City Council clinics remaines extremely constrained, with only 70 out of the expected 138 nurses reporting for duty at the six operational clinics.

Speaking during a Cabinet briefing in Harare yesterday, Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said to ease challenges faced by patients in accessing healthcare, especially pregnant women, Government, in partnership with the local authority, had made arrangements to reopen Edith Opperman Maternity Clinic in Mbare.

“In order to ease the challenges associated with home-based deliveries, the Minister of Health and Child Care has, in conjunction with Harare City Council Health Department, facilitated the opening of Edith Opperman Maternity Clinic,” said Minister Ndlovu.

“Nursing staff from Harare Hospital have been seconded to the Edith Opperman Maternity Clinic, which is open for 24 hours. They will also be working with three Sisters-in-Charge drawn from other City Council clinics.”

Minister Ndlovu said Cabinet was cognisant of an agreement reached between the National Employment Council and the Nurses Trade Union for a salary increment.

“The nurses are, therefore, expected to return to work soon, but will not be paid for the days that they have not been reporting for duty,” he said. “Disciplinary procedures for the striking nurses will definitely be conducted according to the law.”

Source: State Media