Nurses and midwives have renewed calls for higher locum rates, improved incentives and faster recruitment, saying better pay and working conditions are essential to retaining staff and addressing chronic shortages in the public health sector. Health workers demand better pay, working conditions in this previous activity.| NationThe two organisations also commended Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi for making an unannounced visit to Mangochi District Hospital, describing the gesture as a positive step towards boosting morale among frontline health workers. Although acknowledging progress in recent recruitment exercises, they said the efforts remain insufficient to close the country’s estimated shortage of nearly 8 000 midwives. The statement further called for merit-based promotions and greater representation of nurses and midwives in senior leadership positions within the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. “We have a huge pool of well-qualified and experienced nurses and midwives who have stagnated at the same grade for years.