Security summons striking West Darfur medics

Security authorities in West Darfur summoned seven striking doctors today. Doctors in West Darfur state embarked on a strike on Tuesday against the deteriorating services at the government-run hospitals. They demand an increase of their allowances as well. “Today (Wednesday), seven doctors of El Geneina hospital were summoned by the security apparatus. They were interrogated for one hour,” a doctor reported to Radio Dabanga from El Geneina, capital of West Darfur. “The general director of the hospital went with them, and explained that the doctors decided to strike because of the dire conditions they have to work in, the lack of life-saving medicines, as well as demands concerning travel and living allowances.” The striking doctors reached an agreement with the West Darfur state’s health authorities on Tuesday, to resume work on Thursday morning, after the health officials had pledged to address some of the problems, the medical source said. “The doctors granted the Ministry of Health one week to respond to the demands laid out in a memorandum, the doctors submitted before they decided on the strike. File photo: El Fasher hospital, North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: West Darfur doctors strike (24 September 2014)