June 2, 2021
By: Mohamed Jalloh
Sources have intimated this medium from the Junior Doctors Association of Sierra Leone (JUDASIL) that over 89 junior doctors and specialist consultants did not receive their salary for the just ended month of May. One of the doctors who prefer to be anonymous said the reason for withholding their May salary could not be unconnected to a recent strike action by JUDASIL after one of their member was allegedly attacked by a senior official of the Ministry Of Health and Sanitation.
Reports had it that the female junior doctor was allegedly attacked by the official for filming a chaotic strike action conducted by garbage collectors after going months without salaries at the main referral Connaught hospital.
Acting in solidarity with their attacked colleague, JUDASIL members withheld their services rendered to the general public for about a week.
According to the doctor, he sees the act of withholding their salary as a punitive measure that is meant to victimize doctors, who had played a role in the recent strike action that was held in harmony regarding the plight suffered by one of their member.
“If we are not paid, how are we going to make ends meet and also take care of the needs of our family members?” a junior doctor asked.
The doctor noted that these are the type of issues that push junior doctors to seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
When contacted by this medium for a response on the issue, the public relations officer of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Alpha Tamba said he is so far unaware of the recent development.