Health workers at Malakal Teaching Hospital, the main referral facility in Upper State capital, Malakal town have since last week partially laid down tools to protest poor working conditions.
The hospital’s medical director, Dr. Khat Deng, told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that they went on strike since Friday because the resources needed to keep the facility operational are lacking.
“We have been on a strike for the last two days; the strike is partial because we respond to emergency cases. We went on strike because we are not able to do our work due to the lack of patient cards, drugs bags, and electricity, “Dr. Khat said. “And again, we have been paid incentives for a month but that is not a big concern because we are here for the locals.”
Another medical doctor, Joseph Kuol, said they will not resume until their demands are met, arguing, “We are even running out of drugs. For these available ones, we just wrapped in a paper and give to a patient which is not good we are increasing infection risk. We also lack mere papers for taking patient history.”
Meanwhile, Chagai Lual, the health director at Malakal Municipality, decried a dire health situation which he blamed on the lack of health support and supplies and called on the government and health agencies operating in the country to intervene.
For his part, Piot Aben Gac, the state health ministry’s human resources manager, admitted the hospital is partially closed because doctors are not able to dispense work due to the lack of funds.
The health ministry official called on the national government and aid agencies to intervene saying the state government resources are overstretched to adequately meet the growing health needs.