Nearly 21 healthcare workers at the Aweil State Hospital are demonstrating after not
receiving promised incentives for three months.
They have
lodged a letter of complaint with the Employee Justice Commission in Northern
Bahr el Ghazal State, calling for a swift intervention.
These unpaid
incentives, totaling around $17,000 per month, were designed to motivate
healthcare staff to deliver high-quality care.
However, they
say the arrears have affected their ability to cover personal expenses and
support their families.
The chair of
the Employee Justice Commission, Jacob Maduok Dau, acknowledged receiving the
complaint and promised to address it once the governor returned.
He encouraged
them to continue their duties while the commission conducts its investigation.
"The
people you are serving are your community. I am urging you to continue to work
and allow my office to work on your issue so that when the governor comes, your
grievances will be addressed,” Dau told Akol Yam FM on Wednesday.
Some health
workers expressed their frustration and disappointment, highlighting the
difficulties they face in providing care without adequate compensation.
They
emphasized the importance of timely payments to ensure the continuity of
healthcare services.
“I have gone
for three months without anything, and these incentives were given to me to
cater for my family,” Martin Mou said.
Others say
the government’s slow response to their grievances worsens the situation.
“We did a lot
of follow-ups from the government, but there has been no good response up to
now. We have really suffered doing our duties without pay,” Dr. James Deng Lual
explained.
For Dr. Dut
Pioth, he believes that the state government does not value their work, which
is why it has been ignoring their plight for months.
“If the
government says we are not important in the hospital, they must tell us so that
we must leave the hospital,” he argued.
Meanwhile,
the Minister of Health, Jeffery Riiny, confirmed that the ministry is aware of
the issue and is working to resolve it.
The
governor's absence presented challenges, but Riiny assured the health workers
that he would address their concerns upon his return.
"I would
like to tell the health workers, especially the experts, that your grievances
will be addressed when the governor comes back from his official mission,” he
said.
The minister
urged the health workers to maintain their commitment to serving the community
and to remain patient as the ministry works to resolve the issue of unpaid
incentives.
“I am also
encouraging them to continue in the hospital because ministry is working on the
matter,” he added.