LERATO LELIA
Free State community healthcare workers have been paid outstanding monies owed to them. This comes after the TAC handed over a memorandum to the Free State Provincial Council on AIDS (PCA) two weeks ago (July 17). PCA Head of secretariat, Tefo Tabi, says this was one of the biggest issues of the healthcare workers and it had to be prioritized.
“The plan after getting the memorandum, one of the key issues that the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) raised was the outstanding payments from the paying NGO’s. So from my side I prioritized that and I engaged with the Department of Health supply chain management and senior manager for partnerships that are responsible for NGO funding,” said Tabi.
Hundreds of Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) members and community healthcare workers held a march in Bloemfontein on 17 July. The workers marched from Batho Hall in the morning through Bophelo House, to the Provincial Council on AIDS (PCA) to hand over a memorandum stating their grievances. They were also demanding that the PCA support the aims of the TAC in improving the Free State health system.
“There are processes that are unfolding to ensure that the community healthcare workers are brought back to their respective workplaces. However, that process is preceded by the appointment of the NGO’s that are going to pay them with the new system,” said Tabi.
Tabi added that the PCA plans to hold a summit to elect civil society leaders as well as provide a mid-term review of the Free State HIV/AIDS strategic plan 2012-2016. The summit will take place in Bloemfontein from 13-15 August.
