The staff of Bor State Hospital in Jonglei State have issued a formal strike threat due to unresolved pay issues.
In a letter addressed to the State Ministry of Health (SMOH), the hospital’s Staff Crisis Management Committee expressed deep frustration over the lack of resolution from the Ministry and UNICEF.
The letter highlights that despite a long wait, there has been no satisfactory response from SMOH or UNICEF about the incentives, which are crucial for the hospital’s operation.
“We have waited for so long for SMOH and UNICEF to resolve our gravest concern but in vain,” the statement reads.
“Besides, we are not talking about forgotten government salaries but NGOs incentives that have been keeping BSH operational for years.”
The staff underscored that the incentives, funded by NGOs like Care International and TearFund, were vital for their continued service, yet they had faced delays since the transition of those NGOs on June 30, 2024. The workforce has been halved, leading to operational challenges and uncertainty about who would remain employed.
The committee warns that if the situation is not addressed within 72 hours, they will be forced to down tools, which could severely impact healthcare services in Jonglei State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the Director General of the State Ministry of Health, Chot Kueth Kulang, acknowledged receiving the complaint.
“There was a project that ended on June 30, 2024, and a new project started on July 1, 2024. All staff names were transferred to the new partner, TearFund, and subsequently submitted to UNICEF. We are still awaiting payment from UNICEF, and no incentives have been disbursed yet,” he explained.
The South Sudan economic situation continues to worsen as prices of basic food items shoot up due to US dollar rate raise against the local pound. The civil servants and members of the arm forces across the country have gone without pay for about nine months.