Medics insist on Ebola cash

Dec 12, 2000

THE Uganda Medical Workers' Union has given the Government up to next Wednesday to pay a risk allowance for workers in the Ebola affected Gulu, Masindi and Lacor health units.

THE Uganda Medical Workers' Union has given the Government up to next Wednesday to pay a risk allowance for workers in the Ebola affected Gulu, Masindi and Lacor health units. "If by this date Government has not responded positively, health personnel shall undertake a struggle," the union resolved. The union has also resolved that a risk allowance for all health workers in the country be in place by March 2001 and a new improved package by July the same year. The resolutions are in a statement signed by the union's General Secretary, Dr. Sam Lyomoki. Addressing a press conference at Parliament yesterday, Lyomoki declined to give the actual amounts they have asked for but said health workers in the isolation wards should be paid more money. The figures he said should be uniform. He declined to state the nature of the struggle the health workers would undertake if the demands were not met. However, he said in Gulu, the workers had already decided what to do. He said health workers handling Ebola cases were being persecuted and harassed by the public. Lyomoki said meetings will take place in the three hospitals on December 21 to review the progress on the risk allowance. He said a delegates conference will also be held from March 30 to 31, 2001. The union urged the Government to immediately start negotiations with the medical union to resolve the issue of risk and work overload allowance and the remuneration package for health workers. He said the union had mobilised and will facilitate one doctor and four nurses to go to Gulu and Lacor hospitals for one month. "Health workers are called upon to vigilantly and positively respond to the call for volunteers," the union resolved, adding that it will also pressure the Government to deploy more workers in the affected areas with more protective gear. The union, he said, made the resolutions after visiting health workers in Gulu and Lacor Hospitals on curbing the effects of Ebola on health workers. Ebola has wreaked havoc on Gulu, Masindi and Mbarara, killing at least 140 people. Lacor medical superintendent Dr. Matthew Lukwiya, died of the disease last week. Authorities say the virus is under control but urge caution. Ends.

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