By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA:
Medical doctors have defied the orders of President Museveni to call off their sit down strike over salary and welfare enhancement and continued with the strike which has entered day three today.
On Tuesday (yesterday) President Museveni met with the executive membership of the Uganda Medical Association and U.M.A elders’ forum at Statehouse Entebbe where he retaliated his commitment to enhance doctors’ salaries and welfare urging them to suspend the strike and resume working.
According to Dr. Samuel Odongo Oledo, association president, they discussed a number of issues including Medical supplies, disease prevention, employment of doctors and ultimately enhancing the welfare of health workers including salary enhancement and other benefits.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Dr. Odongo says they remain committed to quality healthcare and the welfare of medical doctors in Uganda.
These however have not been obeyed to the presidential orders as their industrial action continues.
Doctors say they will continue with the strike as they await for a commitment from the government’s implementation plan and tangible deliverables on promises made.
Earlier alone, medical doctors had issued a 90-day ultimatum to the government threatening to lay down their tools if President Museveni’s promise to enhance their salaries and welfare were implemented.
The medics also want the government to among other things; improve the infrastructure in public health facilities such as intensive care units, ensure an undisrupted supply of medicines and personal protective equipment as well as avail more ambulances for the Covid-19 case management.
