| Situation gradually returns to normal at key hospitals | Send to a friend |
| Saturday, 11 February 2012 10:48 |
|
Dar es Salaam. Medical services at the Muhimbili National Hospital and other public health facilities picked up yesterday after nearly three weeks of disruption caused by a doctors’ strike that was however called off on Thursday. However, things would take a few more days to fully get back to normal as the number of patients streaming in was still very low compared with the past when all functions were almost at their peak. Meanwhile, civil society activists piled pressure on President Jakaya Kikwete to sack Health and Social Welfare minister Hadji Mponda and his deputy Lucy Nkya if they did not step down voluntarily. A spot-check at Muhimbili and various regional hospitals indicated that most doctors were back on duty. At the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), the doctors were attending to patients who expressed huge relief at the restoration of normalcy when talking to journalists. The Muhimbili National Hospital spokesperson, Mr Aminiel Aligaesha, confirmed that all doctors have resumed work. He also said the 15 doctors from the military who stood in for the striking doctors departed yesterday. MOI spokesperson Frank Matua also confirmed that all doctors had resumed duty He attributed the low patient turn out to the fact that the latter were still unaware of the latest development. Some doctors said they were delighted to be back and asked the government to fulfill its promises without fail. “The government has solved some of our problems and promised to deal with the rest in the near future so we have to work as usual,” said Dr Charles Some. Patients also urged the government to make sure that doctors’ grievances and those of others working in sensitive sectors are addressed in time to avoid chaos similar to those witnessed during the strike. “I arrived here on Wednesday from Morogoro and it’s only today that I was able to see a doctor,” said Mr John Vitalis, a patient at Kibasila Ward. Meanwhile 10 rights organisations yesterday asked President Kikwete to fire Dr Mponda and Dr Nkya. In a joint statement delivered to the press at the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) offices in Dar es Salaam, the organisations said the Head of State should kick the duo out of office if they did not step down voluntarily. LHRC executive director Hellen Kijo-Bisimba also said Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda should tell Tanzanians, within one week, the magnitude of loss the nation has incurred due to the boycott. Reported by Frank Kimboy and Songa wa Songa Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
