One of the main reasons for strikes in the health sector is insufficient allowances, and low pay. In recent years, intern doctors and nurses have gone on strikes and staged demonstrations to show their dissatisfaction with the amount of allowances the Ministry of Health gives them, saying that they do too much and get too little.
Yesterday, Wednesday March 4, 2020 the Nurses and Midwives Union of Uganda met with the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga through their representative Justus Cherop Kiplangat in a move to renew their call for better working and living conditions, ahead of the International Nurses and Midwives day that will be celebrated on May 12, 2020.
The nurses demand better accommodation and feeding, saying that most of them don’t have houses, and those in place are dilapidated or far away from their duty stations.
“The nurses have no houses and the ones which are there now, are in a sorry state. Nurses are forced to report for duty late because they live very far and this affects service delivery,” Kiplanga said.
Kiplangat also told the Speaker that they wrote to the President about their request for improved allowances, saying that what they currently receive (Shs2200) is only enough for a snack, yet they need decent meals since most of them work for long hours.
“Currently, they give us Shs2200 for lunch. This money can only afford a small snack but not a normal meal yet nurses and doctors cannot do without lunch because they work day and night,” Kiplangat said.
Kiplangat was not shy to tell Kadaga that the Public Service, Health, and Housing Ministries are in support of their proposals, and only awaiting President Museveni’s directives for implementation.
Kadaga promised to write to the President to request him to fulfil his outstanding pledges.
“If we are going to construct staff houses, we shall need a loan to be passed in Parliament and anything to do with improving health services, we will be happy to support it. I can assure you that the health sector enjoys a lot of support in Parliament,” Kadaga added.