By NOKUZOLA THWALA | 2024-04-26

Over 2 000 interned paramedics are said to be unemployed 10 years after completing their training.

Other paramedics have never worked since they completed training. Some of the paramedics were self-sponsored while others were trained at the taxpayer’s expense.  

This was revealed by Eswatini Unemployed Paramedics Chairman, Mduduzi Mabuza, after a closed door meeting at Nkhanini Hall yesterday.

Mabuza, who was interviewed after the meeting, said the unemployment rate increases annually because over 80 paramedics qualify and graduate.

He emphasised their importance as paramedics, stating that they get to accident scenes first and at times reach where nurses could not.

The chairman added that their livehood was affected as some have families had responsibilities, and some were supposed to be breadwinners, but instead, became a burden.

He narrated how life was hard for them, hence the need for a quick permanent intervention.
Mabuza also noted that the interned unemployed paramedics differ in qualifications, but their work did not.

He said the country could benchmark with neighbouring countries so that they emulate them by having policies in place that would have mines industries and more interned paramedics.
Emphasising, he called for government’s intervention whether directly or indirectly while noting that they collectively decided to engage the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) moving forward.

“Some have interned from 2014 until the year 2020 in the government sector.
“We have over 600 unemployed paramedics as of last year and this number increases annually as about 80 graduate after training annually,” he said.

Mabuza stated that some of the paramedics studied BAA, which was six weeks, and others qualified for a certificate, diploma, degree and even Master’s degree.

“We are just reminding our potential employer to remember and consider us. Our work touches on all as the basic work is the same and at times referred to as backup,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nomcebo Magagula noted that as much as they differ in qualifications, they were meant to achieve one goal in the health sector.

She encouraged that they work in unity and speak in one voice in trying to find solutions, highlighting that they were all affected; citing tensions in homes, hence the need to seek audience with those who could bring solutions through assistance like government.

“EMS is not the only company that can hire paramedics, even the private companies can. We are at times referred to as the first aid whereas we are not, but we are interned paramedics and those things differ,” said Magagula.

Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Secretary, Xolani Ginindza, said they were not privy to administrative information like how many paramedics government sponsors or hired annually.
He, however, noted that they were aware that some unemployed paramedics had been interns for years, and expected to be hired eventually.

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