RHO denies allegations that he has been victimizing nurses

– Dr. Gregory Harris-

Recently appointed Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Ten, Gregory Harris has
dismissed reports and allegations being levelled against him by several nurses in Region Ten that
he has been seeking to intimidate and victimized them. These allegations were levelled against
Dr Harris recently with some claiming that the RHO is seeking to prevent them for exercising
their duly democratic right of protesting, stressing that he has been acting outside his realm as
the Regional Health Officer is encroaching outside of his responsibilities. “He is the RHO and
not the CEO of the hospital as he seems to think and this means that his responsibilities lie only
with the health centres not to exercise control he has been seeking to control and dictate what we
the nurses do that are attached to the hospital,” a nurse told this media house. She said that they
are determined to change what she and her colleagues dubbed as the ‘nonsense’ taking place in
the region. She said that they have learnt through multiple sources that the region has not been
spending the monies it received from government accurately and this is something that they are
up in arms with. However, she related that several of her colleagues are being intimidated by the
RHO who is talking constantly of nurses being dismissed.
Another said; “He keeps talking about nurses losing their jobs and going to be dismissed and
every time he comes to the hospital, he ensures that he visits some departments where he seeks to
place his weight of power thus driving fear into many. We don’t have an issue with him as an
individual, but what we find alarming is that only a few months ago he was the Medical
Superintendent at Kwakwani and had even spoken about his nurses and doctors like himself
being unable to acquire needed PPE’s but now he is wearing a different shoe, he has short
memory.”
However, contacted by this media house, www.aroundtheregion.com, Dr Harris dismissed the
claims as being ‘politically motivated’. He said that he is challenging these nurses to produce the
evidence that he has sought to victimized and intimidate them. He said that since his appointment
he has sought to enhance and develop the heath care sector within the region, which he said
needs significant work. “To be honest with you I don’t know what nurses they are talking about
in terms of victimizing people at the hospital and these nonsenses. I never victimized anyone as
everybody comes to the office, I listen to them all the time as I seek to help them,” he said.
The RHO said that he is aware that the nurses are being misinformed by the Union Head in
Region Ten, Maurice Butters that he (RHO) has no jurisdiction over the hospital. “It is Butters
(Maurice) who does tell them that I am not responsible for the nurses at the hospital as I am only
responsible for the health centre, but I usually do not say anything to him about that, as all I want
to do is to improve and further developed health care in this region. I don’t have to bully no one
as some may want it to appear that I am bullying the nurses, but all I am seeking to do is to let
them know that the Government is seeking to do its best,” the RHO said.
He disclosed that he held discussion with the aggrieved nurses three times during their protest,
noting that his interaction was merely to identify what the Government through the region is
going to do for them. “I met with them three times, but this was just to let them know what we

will be doing for them. Outside of that, I do not interact with no nurse, because I know what is
happening politically other than those from the health centres that comes to my office with
various concerns and issues and I am working to address those issues that many of the nurses
from the health centres that has been coming to my office,” he declared.
The RHO reiterated that he intends to ensure that the heath care sector in Region Ten improves
and sees his appointment as Government’s commitment to improving it, thus ensuring that the
residents can better benefit from the many programmes and initiatives that are slated to be roll
out shorty.