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Steve Biko hospital nurses and doctors for Covid ‘ad’ false

Hospital asks medical professionals to ignore fake WhatsApp message 'advertising' posts.

The Steve Biko Academic Hospital said qualified nurses and doctors should ignore a fake message “advertising” posts at the hospital doing the rounds on social media.

“We would like to nullify the WhatsApp message asking for applicants to send their applications to various managers’ e-mail addresses,” said Steve Biko hospital CEO Dr Mathabo Mathebula.

Mathebula said potential job seekers should note that vacancies were advertised only on approved platforms.

“Please do not send any applications to the e-mail addresses supplied on the WhatApp message as they will not be considered.”

She apologised to those who had sent any e-mails for any inconvenience caused.

The fake WhatsApp message, supposedly from the hospital’s CEO, state the following:

“Anyone knowing a doctor or a nurse looking for work please direct them to us.

“This is for Covid-19 assistance.”

It then contains a list of names and e-mail addresses for “applicants” to contact.

The message follows the national health department having recently been inundated with public enquiries about placing 288 eligible medical graduates at the hospital to undergo training as part of their academic programme.

Delays in placing the eligible medical graduates were due to consultations with the national treasury and the provincial health departments, according to national health department spokesperson Popo Maja.

Funding shortfalls to cover some of the accredited and unfunded internship posts were also a problem.

The medical graduates would be part of their internship and community service training programme for 2021-22.

Maja said updates would be provided “soon”.

“The department values the contribution medical interns will make to the health system, especially during these difficult times of the third Covid-19 wave.”

He said medical students’ enquiries related to the allocation of medical interns and community service could call help desk on 087 012 5082 or send an email to icsp@dhmis.org.

* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news

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