MAHIKENG, North West — More than 2,400 North West community healthcare workers are urgently seeking permanent jobs after being excluded from a recent mass absorption initiative by the Provincial Health Department.
The workers, who have dedicated over three decades of service to their local communities, say they were left behind when half of their 4,800-strong cohort was officially absorbed into permanent roles by the department.
According to the affected volunteers, their years of unpaid service came at a significant personal cost. Many report sacrificing their own health and personal time, operating under the hope that the Department of Health would eventually reward their dedication with permanent employment.
A spokesperson for the affected workers, shared her personal experience of the department’s unfulfilled promises. She worked as a community healthcare worker for 19 years before retiring in 2019. She expressed deep disappointment, noting that she had anticipated securing a permanent position or benefits upon her retirement but ultimately received nothing from the department.
For many in the cohort, the realization that they were excluded from the absorption process after the completion of phases one, two, and three has been deeply heartbreaking. They feel abandoned by the very institution they gave years of their lives to.
In response to the growing concerns, the North West Department of Health acknowledged the situation. A spokesperson for the department confirmed that while half of the 4,800 volunteers were successfully absorbed, the administration faced logistical and administrative challenges when attempting to process the remaining half.
To resolve the issue, the department has launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan designed to ensure all remaining community healthcare workers are fully employed by 2030.
The spokesperson detailed that the first year of the strategy is heavily focused on capacity building. This initial phase will utilize Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET), retraining programs, and standard recruitment processes to prepare the remaining workers for integration. The department has committed to ensuring that all remaining cadres are given appropriate opportunities to be integrated into the health system by the 2030 deadline.
Despite the rollout of this strategic plan, uncertainty continues to linger among the workers. Many affected community healthcare workers report that a distinct lack of clear communication from the department has left them anxious about their future and the actual implementation of the new employment strategy.
