Doctors and nurses clean Mulago Hospital
DOCTORS and nurses at Mulago Hospital yesterday hang up their gowns and cleaned the patients’ wards as the strike by the cleaners entered its second day.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
DOCTORS and nurses at Mulago Hospital yesterday hang up their gowns and cleaned the patients’ wards as the strike by the cleaners entered its second day.
The hospital staff, who included clinical officers and security guards, cleaned the wards, corridors and toilets to save the hospital from a stench that was coming from abandoned garbage and toilets.
The medical and support staff who worked in shifts from Monday night were joined by volunteers and over 80 National Resistance Movement cadres from Makerere, Kyambogo and Nakawa universities. They mopped, swept, picked garbage and dirt from wards and around the complex.
Most of the Safi Cleaners that went on strike on Monday stayed away from work, complaining of poor pay and no pay for two months.
The company’s contract expires on Wednesday 31, and the new contractor, Norema Cleaning Services, will take over on April 1.
In a circular dated March 30, the hospital executive director, Dr. Edward Ddumba, said the hospital had been paying Safi Cleaners regularly for the last three years, but there had been delays in the last three months. He said they were trying to rectify the situation.
“The reasons for the delays are beyond the control of the hospital as we rely on quarterly releases from the finance ministry,†he said in the letter.
“We are grateful to those patriotic students for their selfless service,†Ddumba said, adding that the situation had returned to normal.
He apologised to the patients and the public for the inconveniences.
“We have been working in shifts to ensure the wards were not deserted. Our colleagues cleaned last night and it is our turn,†a nurse said, adding that she had never experienced such a scenario in Mulago for years.
Many nurses wore gum-boots and gloves and were sweating as they went on with the cleaning exercise in all the wards and corridors.
“I cannot believe that a doctor could accept to clean dirt when he is supposed to be attending to patients,†a surprised patient said.
Nora Nansubuga, a cancer patient, thanked the doctors and volunteers but teased them, saying they should as well appreciate the work done by the Safi Cleaners on little pay.
Mustafa Muwanga, who headed the cadres and volunteers, said their mission was to provide emergency services as the Government sorted out the problem.
“We cannot wait for people to die. Our work is to intervene before it gets out of hand,†he said.
DOCTORS and nurses at Mulago Hospital yesterday hang up their gowns and cleaned the patients’ wards as the strike by the cleaners entered its second day.
The hospital staff, who included clinical officers and security guards, cleaned the wards, corridors and toilets to save the hospital from a stench that was coming from abandoned garbage and toilets.
The medical and support staff who worked in shifts from Monday night were joined by volunteers and over 80 National Resistance Movement cadres from Makerere, Kyambogo and Nakawa universities. They mopped, swept, picked garbage and dirt from wards and around the complex.
Most of the Safi Cleaners that went on strike on Monday stayed away from work, complaining of poor pay and no pay for two months.
The company’s contract expires on Wednesday 31, and the new contractor, Norema Cleaning Services, will take over on April 1.
In a circular dated March 30, the hospital executive director, Dr. Edward Ddumba, said the hospital had been paying Safi Cleaners regularly for the last three years, but there had been delays in the last three months. He said they were trying to rectify the situation.
“The reasons for the delays are beyond the control of the hospital as we rely on quarterly releases from the finance ministry,†he said in the letter.
“We are grateful to those patriotic students for their selfless service,†Ddumba said, adding that the situation had returned to normal.
He apologised to the patients and the public for the inconveniences.
“We have been working in shifts to ensure the wards were not deserted. Our colleagues cleaned last night and it is our turn,†a nurse said, adding that she had never experienced such a scenario in Mulago for years.
Many nurses wore gum-boots and gloves and were sweating as they went on with the cleaning exercise in all the wards and corridors.
“I cannot believe that a doctor could accept to clean dirt when he is supposed to be attending to patients,†a surprised patient said.
Nora Nansubuga, a cancer patient, thanked the doctors and volunteers but teased them, saying they should as well appreciate the work done by the Safi Cleaners on little pay.
Mustafa Muwanga, who headed the cadres and volunteers, said their mission was to provide emergency services as the Government sorted out the problem.
“We cannot wait for people to die. Our work is to intervene before it gets out of hand,†he said.