• There must be formality, transparency and a hastened recruitment process.
• Loose statements made by officials from Ministry of Health have not yielded results.
• Members should remain calm as the Consortium waits for a positive response from Ministry of Health.

Consortium of Health Professional Associations says its members have resolved to stop volunteering and demand that they receive their letters of employment by 18th February.
Consortium Chairperson Dr. Brian Sampa said this is so because the employment of health workers is long overdue.
Dr. Sampa also condemned comments regarding prioritizing volunteers, the best and those with the right working attitude in the recruitment process, stating that the exercise should offer equal opportunities for all.
“We seek formality, transparency and a hastened recruitment process by the Ministry of Health. The employment of health workers is long overdue.”
“Following loose statements or promises that have been made by officials from the Ministry from last year but haven’t yielded anything, our members have resolved to stop volunteering and demand that they receive their letters of employment by 18th February, 2022. Failure to which they will march to the State House to seek audience and intervention from the President,” Dr. Sampa said.
He urged members to remain calm as the Consortium waits for a positive response from Ministry of Health.
“We would also like to condemn comments regarding prioritizing volunteers, the best and those with the right working attitude in the recruitment process as recruitment should offer equal opportunities for all, especially that these are entry level positions.”
“We also urge our general members to remain calm as we wait for a positive response from the Ministry of Health during the period 9th February 2022 – 18th February 2022,” he added.
The Consortium comprises 12 societies and associations namely, Resident Doctors Associations of Zambia), Zambia Society of Physiotherapy, Radiological Society of Zambia, Biomedical Society of Zambia, Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia, and Zambia Medical Licentiate Practitioners Association.
Other members are Clinical Officers’ Association of Zambia, Public Health Association of Zambia, Zambia Institute of Environmental Health, Dental Therapy Society of Zambia, Zambia Association for Science Laboratory Technology and Zambia Association of Biological Scientists.
On Monday, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Dr. Lackson Kasonka disclosed that the recruitment of over 11, 000 health workers has already commenced and is being done in a methodical and systematic manner.