Health workers on strike over COVID-19

Nurses and midwives at Mangochi and Balaka district hospitals have joined others who are on strike in various hospitals to force government improve their working condition amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairperson of nurses in Mangochi Peter Kumitengo has told Radio Islam that they are strike to force government increase their salaries and recruit more nurses.

Kumitengo said are not happy with how government is handling issues concerning COVID-19 as it is responding slowly to complaints of health workers.

One of the patients Patuma Chalamanda at Mangochi district hospital told Radio Islam that she went to the hospital around 6 am to access medical care but the doctors have declined to treat them.

“We depend on hospitals to get healed hence pleading with government to end the strike,” says Chalamanda

Radio Islam tried to hear from Mangochi district health officer Dr Henry Chibowa Junior but did not pick our call.

Meanwhile, district chairperson of National organization of nurses and midwives Thomas Msampha said it is a risk for them to continue working in an unsafe environment.

Msampha said only few of them will be helping the patients.