Workers Strike Paralyses 30 Health Centres In Lakes State Over 30 primary health care centres (PHCC) and primary health centres (PHC) have close down indefinitely in Lakes State for failing to pay their workers. The health workers strike has affected the Counties of Yirol West, Yirol East and Cueibet. 25 August 2011 Workers Strike Paralyses 30 Health Centres In Lakes State Lakes State Ministry of Health Director General, Dr. Achuot Achuot speaking to press in his office [©Gurtong]
By Gabriel Mayom RUMBEK, 25th August 2011 [Gurtong] - Over 30 primary health care centres (PHCC) and primary health centres (PHC) have close down indefinitely in Lakes State for failing to pay their workers. The health workers strike has affected the Counties of Yirol West, Yirol East and Cueibet. A total of 36 health care centres have been affected by the strike. The affected health centres were being served by 120 staff members since 2009 and were jointly paid by the Government and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). After the NGOs ended their projects in these Counties, the government was unable to pay the workers’ salaries as expected. Speaking to press, the Lakes State ministry of health Director General Dr. Achuot Achuot disclosed that his ministry had found a solution, on how to pay all health workers with their full salary as the Government of the Republic of South Sudan policy indicated. Dr. Achuot said, “Anybody working with the government of South Sudan in the Lakes State’s ministry of health is going to be paid according to the new salary policy but we will pay the full salary according to their grade and experience.” The Director appealed to the health workers on strike to change their attitude and save the nation first. He also added that the ministry had issued a divestment for these workers to compete for senior grades. It’s the ministry of health who will employ them but we must have money to pay them – I ask them to be patient because we have divestment issues, - as soon we get the funds we will ask them to come for interviews. According to Mr. James Adut Majok, a PHCC officer in Yirol East County, health facilities in the three Counties closed down until further notice due to delayed payments and empty promises from the ministry of health. Majok confirmed that, “We were working with the Red Cross consortium but they pulled out from the area – so we haven’t been paid our '2009 to 2010' salaries, this is the reason why we decided to go on strike.” Lakes State has poorly equipped health facilities. However, the State government is trying to improve the health issues but there are no professional health workers according to the State health officials. Posted in: Home, Health -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
