South Darfur hospital strikes against militia attacks
The doctors and nurses of the Nyala Hospital have entered into an open-ended strike from work since Sunday, protesting the attack on a doctor by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Medical Doctor, Omar El Tahir, has already resigned because of the lack of security in the hospital. Ibrahim El Tawil, the director of the hospital, told Radio Dabanga that the leaders of the army have failed to respect the civil health institutions, by transferring their wounded to the military hospital. He pointed to the continuing armed attacks on doctors, forcing them to treat patients. “The State Governor has presented a security proposal for deploying a large force from the army, police, and security to prevent the militants from entering the hospital with their arms,” El Tawil said. Non-payment of dues The failure of the state authorities to pay the hospital’s working staff their financial dues is another reason for the doctors’ strike in Nyala. The non-payment has amounted to SDG 10,000 ($1,744) over the past eight years, according to them. The doctors furthermore adhered to the conditions they have raised before the Ministry before returning to work. ‘We strike until it is safe’ The intervention of the state’s security committee, headed by Governor Maj. Gen. Adam Mahmoud Jarelnabi, the army commander, the police and security directors, and the federal Health Minister Omar Suleiman has failed to change the minds of the hospital staff and end their strike. Staff of the Nyala Teaching Hospital also went on strike in the beginning of last May, against the repeated attacks on the doctors and nurses. “The strike will continue until the issue is resolved in a drastic way and the working environment has become safe again. The attacks by government troops are increasing, and the authorities do not take any action to protect the doctors and the hospital,” a doctor reported to Radio Dabanga at the time. Striking staff was attacked in January this year by a group of angry relatives of a patient who did not receive any treatment.File photo: A displaced woman in a Nyala hospital (Nic Bothma-Corbis) Related: South Darfur teachers demand monthly salary payment (18 May 2014) Striking doctors attacked at South Darfur hospital (29 January 2014) South Darfur teachers and Nyala’s surgeons continue striking (22 November 2013)
The doctors and nurses of the Nyala Hospital have entered into an open-ended strike from work since Sunday, protesting the attack on a doctor by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Medical Doctor, Omar El Tahir, has already resigned because of the lack of security in the hospital.
Ibrahim El Tawil, the director of the hospital, told Radio Dabanga that the leaders of the army have failed to respect the civil health institutions, by transferring their wounded to the military hospital. He pointed to the continuing armed attacks on doctors, forcing them to treat patients.
“The State Governor has presented a security proposal for deploying a large force from the army, police, and security to prevent the militants from entering the hospital with their arms,” El Tawil said.
Non-payment of dues
The failure of the state authorities to pay the hospital’s working staff their financial dues is another reason for the doctors’ strike in Nyala. The non-payment has amounted to SDG 10,000 ($1,744) over the past eight years, according to them. The doctors furthermore adhered to the conditions they have raised before the Ministry before returning to work.
‘We strike until it is safe’
The intervention of the state’s security committee, headed by Governor Maj. Gen. Adam Mahmoud Jarelnabi, the army commander, the police and security directors, and the federal Health Minister Omar Suleiman has failed to change the minds of the hospital staff and end their strike. Staff of the Nyala Teaching Hospital also went on strike in the beginning of last May, against the repeated attacks on the doctors and nurses.
“The strike will continue until the issue is resolved in a drastic way and the working environment has become safe again. The attacks by government troops are increasing, and the authorities do not take any action to protect the doctors and the hospital,” a doctor reported to Radio Dabanga at the time.
Striking staff was attacked in January this year by a group of angry relatives of a patient who did not receive any treatment.
File photo: A displaced woman in a Nyala hospital (Nic Bothma-Corbis)
Related:
South Darfur teachers demand monthly salary payment (18 May 2014)
Striking doctors attacked at South Darfur hospital (29 January 2014)
South Darfur teachers and Nyala’s surgeons continue striking (22 November 2013)
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