On September 16, the Coalition of Unemployed Allied Health Professionals will stage a picket at the Ministry of Health to address the ongoing issue of unposted members from the 2019 to 2023 year groups.
This protest underscores the government’s persistent failure to provide the necessary placements.
The Coalition has repeatedly appealed to both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance for financial clearance, yet these efforts have yielded no results.
As a result, many Allied Health Professionals have been left without employment for an extended period.
Michael Hlordzi, the Coalition’s spokesperson, expressed deep frustration with the situation. He highlighted that the prolonged unemployment has pushed many members into less relevant jobs, reflecting a misuse of their professional skills.
“There is serious agitation now and then. People have resorted to menial jobs like construction and selling on the street and the most painful part is that we have to renew our professional pins every year. We renew them in anticipation of clearance, but it never comes.”
The Coalition sees the timing of their protest as critical due to the approaching elections. They fear that postponing their action might result in their issue being deprioritized by the government.
“The year is drawing to a close, and elections are approaching. If we don’t picket now, next year after the election, we don’t think any government will be interested in our case,” Hlordzi added.
He also stressed the need for immediate financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance, even if it’s only for one year group, to resolve this ongoing issue.
Allied Health Professionals include a range of specialists, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, dietitians, and nutritionists.