NUPSAW Limpopo Delivered Memorandum to MEC of Health and Basic Education
By Thulane Madalane
Polokwane:On Monday National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) in Limpopo organized a march to deliver a memorandum of demands to the offices of the MEC for Health and the Department of Basic Education. This action represented the voices of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Grade R Teachers, advocating for their rights and recognition in the workplace.
During the march, NUPSAW called for the permanent absorption of various community health workers, including Community Care Givers, Lay Counsellors, Condom Distributors, Mother Mentors, and Peer Educators. These frontline workers formed the backbone of Outreach Teams, playing crucial roles in improving health outcomes, managing disease burdens, and ensuring effective illness prevention throughout their communities.
Despite a national discourse favoring the complete integration of CHWs into the health system, the Limpopo Department of Health struggled to keep pace. Unlike other provinces that actively prepared for the permanent integration of these essential workers, Limpopo faced challenges related to poor database management and administrative inefficiencies, which hindered significant progress.
Additionally, professional nurses who had been released for further training found themselves without proper recognition of their new qualifications. This lack of acknowledgment substantially undermined their roles and contributions within an already understaffed healthcare system.
One of the CHWs expressed frustration at the lack of recognition, stating anonymously, “We are the first line of care in our communities, yet we often feel invisible. It’s time for the government to acknowledge our contributions and ensure we have secure jobs. We deserve to be treated with respect and given the opportunity to grow in our careers.” This sentiment resonated with many others present at the event, emphasizing the urgent need for recognition and support for frontline workers.
The march also extended its focus to the Department of Basic Education, where NUPSAW demanded the permanent absorption of Grade R teachers. These educators play a pivotal role in early childhood development, laying a foundation for learners’ academic success. NUPSAW Provincial Secretary Ntata Sekgota emphasized the union’s position, stating, “Community Health Workers (home-based caregivers) must be absorbed into the systems, and nurses who used their own funds to further their studies must be given a chance to compete for promotional posts and be appointed based on merit. Equally important, we want our Grade R teachers to have similar recognition as those in higher grades.”
The march served as a significant demonstration of solidarity among community health workers and educators, highlighting the urgent need for their permanent recognition and integration into the respective sectors.
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