South Sudan health workers denies calling off strike

JUBA – The front-line health workers responding to coronavirus pandemic in South Sudan have refuted what they calls ‘false’ information that they have resumed COVID-19 prevention activities in the capital Juba.

On 27″ May 2021, the COVID-19 Front-line Healthcare Workers laid down their tools demanding nine-month arrears payment from the Ministry of Health and the National High-Level Task-force.

The group vowed to resume work only if the government clears their dues.

On 2 June, Dr. John Rumunu, the Director-General for Preventive Health Services at Health Ministry claimed that the group have resumed work after reaching consensus with officials from the Ministry.

“Please ignore the false information that we have resumed the COVID-19 Activities,” the group said in a statement emailed to Sudans Post this afternoon.

The group admitted that the team from the Ministry of Health had a meeting with them on 31st May but failed to break the deadlock.

“The Ministry of Health acknowledged that it’s the legal right of the COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare workers’ to be given their unpaid 9-months but said they don’t have money to pay the staff,” the group narrated.

They insisted that without money and clear mentioning of when to pay them, they will continue with the peaceful strike until they are paid.

The group regretfully announced that they have lost one of their colleagues due to a lack of money to pay for the medication.

“We are saddened by the death of our colleague Taban Cosmos Ali, the Chief of Planning Section PHEOC, who was unable to afford medical care because his incentives had not been paid to him by the Ministry of Health and National High-Level Taskforce,” the group said.

“This explains the importance of paying claims of risk allowance, medical insurance and timely payment to the COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Workers in the country,” they added.

“You can imagine, a COVID-19 healthcare frontline worker committed despites the daily life challenges to saving peoples’ lives could not afford to save his life because of money yet had stayed without Incentives for 9 months, it’s a pity,” they stated.

They called on the government, general public, and the stakeholders to look into this matter.

“Our well-being is of fundamental importance and condemns the intimidation that we are getting. Please continue observing the preventive measures for COVID-19 as we continue demanding our rights so that we are able to support ourselves and our families,” they said.