Female overseers to be recruited

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has directed the Health Ministry Secretary and Director General (Health Services) to recruit female overseers next year to oversee female minor employees to stop gender based discrimination and violence against women, Health Ministry spokesman W.M.D. Vanninayake said.

According to Vanninayake, Minister Sirisena said that state hospitals face a shortage of female minor staff because they often leave their jobs due to sexual harassment and abuse. Hurt and disappointments also compel them to leave their jobs. The situation has become serious in the recent past due to a large number of minor employees leaving their jobs.

As another step towards ensuring the well being of female health employees and all other female workers in the health sector the Health Ministry has decided to allow female doctors and nursing sisters to conduct free counselling for female minor employees. This strategy is to be implemented from next year. Once implemented female minor employees will get the benefit of obtaining free counseling service within their working environment.