• sets aside M10 million for their salaries

Limpho Sello

GOVERNMENT has recruited 136 new nurses to boost its fight against the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19), the Health Ministry’s Director of Nursing Services, Mpoeetsi Makau has said.

The nurses were recruited from those who have been trained in various institutions but were still unemployed. Ms Makau said the nurses were hired on a six months contract up to September 2020. M10 million has been set aside for their salaries.

Over the weekend, 94 out of the 136 nurses underwent a two-day training organised by the Nursing Directorate.

Ms Makau subsequently told the Sunday Express that the nurses would be deployed in all the country’s 10 districts from May to September 2020 and their duties would include conducting surveillance, screening and testing for Covid-19.

“The (Health) ministry has set aside about M10 million to pay the salaries of the 136 new nurses,” Ms Makau said.

She said although the nurses’ contracts expired in September 2020, it would be best for the government to assess the impact of Covid-19 at that time before deciding whether or not to let them go.

“Lesotho is yet to record any infections but if we were to record our first Covid-19 case in August then we would need to keep them in the system to help us fight the virus,” Ms Makau said.

Newly recruited midwife Realeboha Macheli expressed gratitude for the job opportunity, saying he and fellow recruits would work tirelessly to beat the virus and other diseases.

“Now more than ever, it is not easy being a nurse when we are also not immune to the deadly virus. Ours is therefore a mission to go out and prioritise the prevention and control of Covid-19.

“We plead with the government to support us all the way and keep us motivated and equipped at all times. By so doing, many lives will be spared from the virus,” Mr Macheli said.