Healing needed after strike - MEC

2010-09-08 16:58

Durban - Psychologists and religious leaders are needed to lead a process of healing after the public servants' strike, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo said on Wednesday.

“The process of healing is required to ensure that the delivery of health care is done in a collegial and caring environment,” Dhlomo said in a statement.

The strike had frayed relations between managers and staff in the same department, and between health workers and the people they were supposed to serve.

“People have been called names, their property damaged and some physically intimidated, including those who were stabbed and sjamboked by known and unknown assailants.”

Dhlomo said forgiving did not erase the bitter experiences. People had laid criminal charges against their attackers. The department did not expect people to forget the trauma they went through.

“In our quest to heal and recover from the hurts that we have suffered, we seek for inspiration to guide us in times of sorrow.”

His office would co-ordinate the observance of prayer and healing in all institutions. Dhlomo and his management would attend some of the ceremonies.

On Tuesday labour unions suspended the 20-day strike that crippled state hospitals and schools across the country.

- SAPA