Aging nurses at risk

IT is risky for nurses above the age of 50 to work in the frontline amidst the high threat of the Covid-19 but they continue to do so because there are not enough nurses, the Papua New Guinea Nurses Association (PNGNA) says.
This concern was raised during a media conference on Wednesday where the PNGNA called on the Government, through the Department of Personnel Management, to swiftly approve the nurses’ awards.
Highlands nurses representative Lamson Hinanu said it was unfortunate that they had an ageing workforce that were at risk.
Hinanu said when a Covid-19 case was announced for Eastern Highlands followed by the two-week lockdown, the Goroka Provincial Hospital was devoid of nurses because the majority of them were nearing 50 or above 50. He said the Covid-19 pandemic had exposed the issue of an aging workforce in the country’s healthcare system.
“The Government has to look at that and get more recruits and young people in otherwise we will have situations like this.”
Hinanu, who represents seven provinces, said with the Covid-19 cases increasing, older people were at a higher risk of dying and this would see more of them stay away from work or limit contact or work in high risk areas and professions.
PNGNA treasurer Sr Damaris Penias said most of the ageing workforce were not retrenched due to funding issues and some had died while continuing to work.
She said the ageing workforce were occupying positions which the younger nurses could fill.