By Rungano Dzikira

The health sector has welcomed the new shift work schedule introduced by Government saying it will cushion them from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the transport costs.

The new schedules entail that health workers report for duty for a full week and then go off duty for two weeks, returning after a Covid-19 test. Nurses at Harare Central Hospital expressed enthusiasm towards this latest news.

“This is the best development ever. Imagine that we have been coming to work every day with fears of getting infected in the line of duty either from patients, or fellow colleagues,” said Tariro Muchirahondo, a nurse at Sally Mugabe Hospital.

“At least this eliminates being infected by workmates,” she added.

The switch in work routine was said to have been effected already.

Meanwhile, nurses from private hospitals said nothing official had been communicated to them as yet, but were however optimistic that their employers would follow suit.

This new shift work was prompted by the fact that health workers have the highest risk of infection since they deal with sick people daily in their line of duty.

“World over there have been reports of health workers who have contracted the disease in their line of duty, a situation which Government intends to put to bed,” said Health Services Board chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikosana.