<B>President of the Nurses’ Union</B>

<B>What is your assessment of the present conditions of service of nurses in the public sector?</B>

Past and present governments have realised that most of our qualified nurses are leaving Mauritius to work abroad where the conditions of service and salaries are more attractive. It’s a fact that no one has been able to retain these nurses. That’s why we have been saying for a very long time that something should be done. After a long struggle, the previous government set up a high-powered committee to review the situation. But the report was never published.

<B>What are your comments now that the new government has released the report on the Health Personal Care?</B>

We are happy that the new government has published this report. At the level of the union, we are still studying it. We will convene a meeting maybe this week to make our in-depth comments. One thing is clear: this report contains positive measures, which we welcome. Some measures, such as an increase in the night-duty allowance for nurses, charge nurses and midwives, two increments as retention allowance and special conditions for those working in cyclonic weather, are most welcome.

<B>What are the points with which the Nurses Union is not satisfied?</B>

I must say, first of all, that we are not rejecting this report. We have asked for its publication. There are points we want to discuss further with the ministry of Health or with the HPC, chaired by Harry Ganoo, head of the civil service. Some of our requests, which have not been retained, are: the right for nurses to work in the private sector during their off-duty hours, a Rs 10 000 annual allowance to buy books to keep nurses informed on modern techniques of helping patients, a rise in our basic salary from Rs 8 800 to Rs 15 000, and the creation of four posts of charge nurses.

<B>Do you believe these measures will prevent nurses from going abroad now?</B>

I wonder. Personally, I don’t think so but we must meet at the level of the union to discuss the matter further. However, we are not discouraged. A step has been made in the right direction. The government has realised that something had to be done for us. But we will continue to fight. I must add that the government’s intentions were good but it is certainly not enough to prevent our experienced nurses from going abroad. The rise in the night duty allowance from Rs 400 to Rs 600 is not enough. The two increments as retention allowance are not enough. It should have been four increments, around Rs 2000 and more.