‘Eswatini nurses to sue government over COVID-19 mess’ 20 April 2020

The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (Swadnu) have declared their intent to take the Eswatini government to court for gross negligence. Swadnu have consulted their attorneys and intend to lodge an urgent application to have a the court instruct government to supply adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to all healthcare workers. This comes after a nurse at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) hospital tested positive for COVID-19 and ten other nurses were isolated. Swadnu President Bheki Mamba, confirmed that the union would take government to court over their handling of the health crisis.

…The union slammed government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, pointing out that nurses are not only vulnerable to exposure to the virus but could rapidly spread the disease if not properly protected. Mamba rubbished reports that nurses and other healthcare workers did not want to cooperate with the Eswatini government in the fight against COVID-19. “We have contributed immensely to the fight against previous viruses such as HIV. We have been there during the outbreak of cholera, measles and we offer health care service to TB patients, and many others,” he said. Mamba claimed that Eswatini’s first COVID-19 fatality could have been avoided if the Lubombo Referral Hospital had adequate stocks of diabetic medication.