MARGAO: The Goa Women’s Forum (GWF) has written to the Director of Health Services Dr Jose D’Sa on International Nurses Day.
GWF said the lockdown and COVID-19 have put the spotlight on nurses and their irreplaceable work and that WHO has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
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GWF urged the DHS Director to appoint a taskforce to review the facilities and benefits available to nurses at present; the incremental improvements that are possible keeping in mind the new hospitals; and other medical facilities that are coming up in different parts of Goa. They have also demanded that district nodal officers are appointed to handle grievances faced by nurses both in the government and the private sector that cover issues like physical assault, sexual harassment etc. They called for better coordination with the Commissioner of Labour & Employment to address the labour related issues like just wages, proper payment for overtime work, child care leave, gratuity, pension, insurance and other benefits. Similarly, they called for coordination with the Goa Nursing Council to prepare a ‘Citizens Charter’ where all aspects of nursing are listed and made available to the general public.
They also demanded that a review be undertaken in collaboration with the GBSHSE, Goa University, Directorate of Education & Higher Education on promoting nursing as a career option and possible increase in facilities for nursing education in Goa. Finally, the demanded that dedicated websites be launched this year for the Institute of Nursing Education and the Goa Nursing Council.
