Medics’ strike starts in Darfur’s Zalingei, ends in Nyala

The doctors and health workers of a medical association in Zalingei locality, Central Darfur, have decided to stop working in two camps for displaced people for three days in protest against low salaries. In South Darfur, doctors have ended their strike after the state government committed to provide security inside the Nyala hospital. The employees of the Sudanese American Medical Association (SAMA) will stop working in the health centres at Hamidiya and Tayeba camps from Sunday until Tuesday. The coordinator of the Central Darfur camps told Radio Dabanga that he received letters from the employees on Thursday, announcing their strike against their low salaries. “The strike will include the medical assistants, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, nutrition workers, and administrators of vaccinations in the camps,” the coordinator explained. He reported the event to the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), underscoring the dangers the strike of SAMA employees may pose to the health situation in the two camps. Security in Nyala hospital The doctors of the Nyala Teaching Hospital, in the capital of South Darfur, have lifted their strike after four continuous days. They had protested the lack of protection inside the hospital, following the latest attack against two employees by a policeman who visited the hospital. The hopital’s director, Ibrahim El Tawil, told Radio Dabanga that the government has decided to secure the hospital 24/7. “There will be five policemen inside the hospital at all times, and two of them will be positioned at the entrances.” He explained that the decision was made after the Central Darfur Governor visited the hospital for four hours. Furthermore, the authorities confirmed to the director that the policeman who attacked two employees will be put on trial on Monday. File photo: Midwives in Darfur (Unamid) Related: South Darfur doctors strike against repeated attacks (31 October 2014)Six striking West Darfur medics resign (22 October 2014)