Labouring over gender

Medical and nursing officers’ trade unions are in a brawl on opening the labour rooms to training for male nurses.

The doctors at Kurunegala Hospital protest labour room training being given to male nurses who are reading for a nursing degree. The Government Medical officers’ Association (GMOA) says that the training makes the female patients uncomfortable and must be stopped.

Nursing officers in Kurunegala Hospital have walked out in protest of the GMOA stance. Nursing trade unions have threatened to strike unless the training is given to the male nursing students.

GMOA further argues that there is no need for nurses in labour rooms and the Ministry should consider removing them to slash costs.

(www.colombopage.com)