Nurses and midwives in Uganda on Thursday started their sit-down strike after they failed to reach a consensus with government over payment of their lunch allowance.
Justus Cherop Kiplangat, president of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, told Xinhua by telephone that only critical personnel were allowed to work in the emergency section and intensive care units.
Kiplangat said the country’s President Yoweri Museveni on May 12, 2018 promised to increase the lunch allowance of the nurses and midwives but up to now nothing has been effected.
Robinah Nabbanja, minister of state for health in charge of general duties, told Xinhua by telephone that government would continue to negotiate with the nurses and midwives to call off the strike.
He said the promises made by the president would be fulfilled in due course.
The government had already allocated the money but the COVID-19 pandemic changed the priority, the minister explained, noting once the pandemic slowed down, the medical workers would be priority.
“My advice to nurses and midwives is to remain working as the government looks for funds to fulfill its promise,” she said.
Over 8,000 nurses and midwives have heeded the union called and stayed at home as they wait for the government to come up with a solution for their payments, according to Kiplangat.
Uganda has about 70,167 nurses and midwives registered with the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council. (Xinhua/NAN)
