Kibaha. Wanawake wafanyakazi wanaojifungua watoto njiti wamesema siku 84 zilizowekwa kisheria kama likizo ya uzazi hazitoshelezi kulea watoto hao, wakiomba kufanyika wa marekebisho ya sheria ili kuwaongezea muda.
Wamesema hayo leo Machi 6, 2024 wakati wakipokea msaada wa vifaa vya usafi vilivyotolewa na idara ya wanawake ya Chama cha Wafanyakazi wa Serikali na Afya Tanzania (Tughe) waliotembelea Hospital ya rufaa ya Mkoa wa Pwani, Tumbi.
“Siku 80 ni chache kumuacha mtoto njiti na kuanza kazi, kwani anakuwa hajatengamaa vizuri. Ni vema iwekwe sheria ambayo inatambua kulipiza miezi inayotimiza kipindi cha kujifungua kama mjamzito amejifungua ndani ya miezi saba basi likizo yake ijumlishwe miezi mitatu na siku 80,” amesema Felister Assenga ambaye ni ofisa muuguzi kwenye hospitala ya Tumbi.
Amesema kuwa wanawake wanaojifungua watoto njiti wakiongezewa muda wa likizo, watatekeleza majukumu yao kwa ufanisi, pindi wanaporejea kazini kwa kuwa hawatakuwa na mawazo mengi kichwani kwa kuwaza watoto wao.
Kwa upande wake, Sikitu Salumu ambaye pia ni miongoni mwa wanawake waliojifungua watoto njiti ndani ya hospitali hiyo, amesema kuwa malezi ya watoto wanaozaliwa kabla ya wakati, yanahitaji nafasi na muda wa kutosha hivyo kuna kila sababu ya jamii kulitambua hilo ili kutoa ushirikiano.
“Natoa wito kwa jamii kuna baadhi wamekuwa wakihusisha na imani potofu pindi mwanamke anapojifungua mtoto njiti, jambo ambalo siyo kweli ni lazima watambue kuwa kila kitu kinapangwa na Mungu, hivyo tunapaswa tuwapende watoto wanaozaliwa kabla ya wakati na si kuwawazia vibaya,” amesema.
Akizungumza baada ya kukabidhi msaada huo ambao ni vifaa vya usafi na nguo za kusitiri watoto wachanga, Ofisa Elimu Kazi wa Tughe makao makuu, Nsubisi Mwasendede amesema chama hicho kinaiomba Serikali kufanya maboresho katika sheria zake, ili kuwaongezea siku za likizo ya uzazi wafanyakazi wanawake wanaojifungua watoto njiti.
“Sheria ya sasa ya ajira na mahusiano kazini imekuwa ikitoa siku 84 kwa wanawake wanaojifungua mtoto mmoja na pia siku 100 kwa wanajifungua zaidi ya mtoto mmoja wala haisemi chochote kuhusu wanawake wanaojifungua watoto njiti.
“Ndio maaana tumeona ni vyema kuikumbusha Serikali kufanya mabadiliko ili kuwaongezea muda wanawake hao,” amesema.
Likizo watoto njiti bungeni
Suala hilo la likizo liliwahi kuibuliwa bungeni jijini Dodoma Juni 25, 2019, ambapo aliyekuwa Naibu Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Rais (Utumishi na utawala bora), Mary Mwanjelwa alisema kuwa Serikali imeweka utaratibu kuwa mtumishi wa umma anayejifungua pacha zaidi ya wawili au watoto njiti.
Alisema mwajiri wake anapaswa kuwailisha hoja kwa katibu Mkuu (Utumishi) ili kupata kibali cha kuongezewa muda wa likizo.
“Ikitokea mtumishi wa umma kajifungua watoto pacha zaidi ya wawili au watoto njiti na kulazimika kuwa na muda zaidi wa kuhudumia watoto hao, mwajiri wake anapaswa kuwasiliana na katibu Mkuu (Utumishi) ili atoe kibali cha kuongezewa muda wa likizo ya uzazi,” alisema.
Ziara ya TUGHE
Naye Mwenyekiti wa idara ya wanawake (TUGHE) makao makuu Agnes Ngereza, amesema katika kuelekea kilele cha siku ya wanawake duniani, wameona ni vema kuwatembelea na kutoa msaada kwenye wodi ya wanawake waliojifungua watoto njiti na kupata changamoto mbalimbali zinazowakabili ili kuziwasilisha kwa wadau wengine.
Kwa upande wake, muuguzi bingwa wa watoto hospitalini hapo, Maua Pendo ameushukuru uongozi wa TUGHE kwa kutoa msaada huo kwa wanawake na kuziomba taasisi zingine kuiga mfano huo.
Source: mwananchi.co.tz
Share this news
This Year's Most Read News Stories
Will Tanzania agree to Starlink Internet Service?
Will the Tanzania government let Starlink, the world-famous internet service provider, operate in the country?Continue Reading
Zanzibar: Containers and dhows carrying alcohol stuck at Malindi Port
ZMMI, Scotch Store and One Stop Company have filed contempt of court case against Nicholas Eshalin, the chief executive officer of the Zanzibar Multipurpose TerminalContinue Reading
Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
