Health workers down tools over unpaid arrears in Upper Nile State

JUBA – Health workers at Maban County Hospital in Upper Nile State of South Sudan have laid down their tools over salary arrears.

The workers employed by Cordaid went on strike on Wednesday demanding incentives, salaries and lack of contract.

Peter Buay, Officer-in-Charge of Laboratory said they are demanding better working conditions.

“The strike came following delay of salaries and issue of contract. Nurse, assistant, laboratory and the rest of the staff were given three months contract and the contract will end in March but it was later canceled,” Buay told Radio Salam in Maban County on Wednesday.

“The other major problem that led to the strike is the delay of the salaries. We have not received our salaries since December last year and we have not received our incentives too,” Buay added.

Buay said they will only resume work if the administration of Cordaid and the hospital meets their demands.

“The worker should be given their incentives to improve their welfare so that they will deliver good health services to patients,” he said.

He said the health worker demanded fair contract with the Cordaid and hospital administration.

“There is no per time job in the hospital, the workers should be given contract because if you want to fire someone, you will do it base on the code of the conduct written in the contract,” he said.

He said they have been following the issue with Maban County Commissioner but in vain.

“We have had several meetings with concern authorities but we have not reach any agreement and that is why we have decided to tool down and wait for their response,” he said.

The sit-down strike has reportedly left several patients into squalid conditions as they remain unattended to.

Anadi Nuor, a mother whose child has been admitted at the Maban County hospital said the condition of her sick child is deteriorating since doctors are not attending to patients.

“I am a mother and I have a child who has been admitted at this hospital and my child has not been attended to by doctor since Wednesday,” Nuor said.

“My child is suffering from sickness and there is no any doctor to treat her and we want doctors to come and treat sick children,” Nuor added.