Maputo — The health directorate in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula has in the last 12 months served disciplinary proceedings against 41 workers, half of whom were then sacked, reports Monday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais".

This information was revealed during a meeting of the Provincial Health Coordinating Council that ended in the port city of Nacala on Friday.

Among the accusations against those workers were illicit charges in the public health service, theft of hospital equipment, and abandonment of their posts.

Provincial Health director Flavio Uate urged the participants to the meeting to respect all rules and regulations of the health service and prevent situations where some of the few trained staff have to be sacked.

He pointed out that the health service in the country has serious problems of staff shortages, and cannot afford to feel obliged to sack some of them because of disobedience to the rules of the public service.

On the other hand, the meeting learnt of a number of health units that have been built but are not operating because of lack of equipment.

The Mahelene health centre, in Nacala district, was built about four years ago, but it is still not operating. Uate blamed this on lack of coordination between the district authorities and the health services.

Uate said there had been a mistake in the calculations, because the Mahelene health centre had been was designed without taking into account the equipment it would need, Uate promised that his directorate will soon ensure that this centre is finally inaugurated.

Reporters learnt that, besides the Mahelene centre, there are another five in the same condition in the province and, to overcome such problems the provincial health directorate has been working with the district governments to ensure better coordination in future.