Following the tirade that James Michel hurled at the health
and education professionals; at least one of the two ministers concerned met
with her ‘Waterloo ‘ in the afternoon of Monday 22nd February, in
the Ministry of Health. The woman whose wardrobe seems to consists of anything
and everything red, had called a meeting of all health professionals, seemingly
to follow-up on the litany of instances of alleged malpractice and
mismanagement, which were levelled against her ministry, by her boss during his
SONA last week.
One health worker opined that she suffered from a Freudian
slip and started off addressing what she thought was a gathering of party
faithfuls from Marie Jeanne Estate on Baie Ste. Anne Praslin!
Not only have the health professionals been ridiculed about
their performance; but to add insult to injury, they have also been accused of
politicking while on duty. What is ironic is that the person the most guilty of
abusing her position to politicize and campaign in the Ministry of Health, is
Madam Mitcy Larue herself !
She has her team of foot soldiers at all levels in the
ministry, who before and during last year’s presidential election were
campaigning for the ruling party. Perhaps the most glaring and objectionable
incident was when Michel Faure got the Cuba trained doctor to don his ‘kitenge’
and address the crowd at the rally, where he denigrated the opposition’s
supporters, particularly the Lalyans Seselwa Executive Committee Members!
How can the general public have faith in the health system
when health professionals who are supposed to serve without fear nor favor, openly
show allegiance to a party that has a record of victimization of the
Seychellois who are political dissidents? Interestingly enough while his
colleagues health professionals openly and candidly expressed their outrage and
frustrations to the Minister, the doctor who was kitenge clad during the rally of
the reds, sat and listened in muted silence.
Whispers doing the rounds in the hospital have it that State
House has not kept its promise to the good doctor to elevate him to the rank of
minister. He had allegedly agreed to come out and speak in favour of Michel on
the understanding that he would be replacing the ‘lady in red!’ Perhaps you
should stick to your scalpel dear doctor. Politics are for the rough and tough
and many have been used and discarded after they had served their purpose for
Michel and co.
It would appear that Mrs. Larue had dangled some obscure
promise before the health professionals, to be delivered on health workers day,
but this cut no ice with those who had had enough of being unappreciated while
giving their best. When a leader fails to understand and appreciate the
challenge, frustrations and low morale of his or her troops, then he or she is
no more a leader and should step aside in the interest of the organization and
in this case, of the Ministry of Health and ultimately in the interest of the Seychellois
patients who are its clients.
One thing is clear,- the professionals in this country have found
their voice. Gone are the days when the Seychellois workers do not question the
shenanigans of the ruling party. If Madam Larue is to seriously start on an
audit of MOH, she should start with the dialysis unit which has been the
subject of much controversy over the last year. The only way to clear all the
accusations around the Abu Dhabi backed company managing the dialysis unit, is
to bring in an independent firm (from South Africa for example), to carry out a
comprehensive audit of this unit. That is if the CEO would give his blessings
to such a development!
Finally, I have spent four very fulfilling years at the
Ministry of Health and I have witnessed just how devotedly and how hard the
health professionals work to keep the service delivery at an acceptable level.
For a leader and a supposedly Head of State at that, to publicly
berate, criticize and scold the health professionals the way Michel did, is to
lower their worth in the eyes of people whom they serve. That is a sign of a
weak leader and at the very least a leader who has not grasped the basics tools
of organizational management and inspirational leadership.
I therefore salute all health professionals who gave the
minister a good dose of home truth! I know that home truths hurt. Perhaps she
will do the most honourable thing and find an exit where she would not lose face.
As for the other professionals in the public service, my
advice to you all is to stand up for your rights and for the respect that you
deserve. Do not give in to incompetent and under- qualified leaders who are
supposedly running government without knowing their -sides from the hole in the
ground.
Long live freedom of speech.
Source:Seychelles Weekly
