Patients stranded as Bor Hospital shuts down over Health Workers’ Salary Strike
The industrial action, which began last year, has effectively paralyzed the hospital’s operations, exacerbating an already fragile healthcare situation in the region.
By Riak Chol
A deepening crisis has gripped Bor State Hospital, leaving scores of critically ill patients stranded at its gate as health workers continue a widespread strike protesting amid plan to downsize staff by the Jonglei State Ministry of Health on Wednesday.
The industrial action, which began last year, has effectively paralyzed the hospital’s operations, exacerbating an already fragile healthcare situation in the region.
Families with ailing loved ones are left in despair, some having traveled long distances to seek medical attention only to be met by locked gates.
Speaking to The City Review, Angieth Abraham who accompanied a sick person to the hospital said he has waited for more than four hours to enter the main gate of the hospital.
“My cousin is in the hospital there are he is supposed to undergo surgery today and I have been waiting here for four hours I am not sure if his surgery will be done today,” Abraham said.
Another women Reech and a mother of 9 month-old child said her baby fever which need quick medical attention but has no way to enter the hospital.
“My child has a high fever, and we came all the way from the villages, but the gate is closed and security is refusing has to enter the hospital,” Reech,
The strike stems from a contentious layoff plan proposed by the State Ministry of Health, which health workers claim will drastically reduce an already strained workforce and leave many without livelihoods.
While details of the exact number of planned layoffs remain unclear, the health workers’ union has expressed strong opposition, citing the critical need for more, not fewer, medical professionals in Jonglei State.
Sources close to the hospital staff, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, revealed that the proposed layoffs aims at stabilzing the state hospital.
“The people making strike are those without medical qualifications, what the ministry is doing is to employ those with academic qualifications so that they will deliver the needed services to the people of Jonglei state.” He said.
He added that most of the health workers have no qualifications that make reject the layoff plan by the state government.
“Most of these people have no academic qualifications and what the government wants is to employ the qualified consultants who will with academic qualifications and that’s what they don’t want” he said.
However, Bol Chau Mayol, medical Director for Bor state hospital said the health workers strike was triggered by the layoff plan by the state ministry of Health.
“It was said by the Jonglei state governor said the state hospital need specialist and those clinical officers being employed as consultants will be taken to their positions of Clinical officers, this will affect many people of and the verification team was send and the staff did not like it that’s what makes the staffs close the gate of the hospital” said Bol.
He said the verification process was caused by the state governor, Dr. Riek Gai Gok.
“The verification process was stopped by the state governor through minister of health and the state hospital will resume its operation as the Governor conduct meeting with other state authorities and partners to address the matter,” Bol said.
As the standoff between the health workers and the Jonglei State Ministry of Health continues, the stranded patients at Bor State Hospital serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a resolution.
The community is calling on all parties involved to prioritize the lives and well-being of the people and find an immediate solution to the stalemate.
