By Kabs Kanu
Life became more intolerable for the people of Sierra Leone on Monday when doctors and medical professionals went on what they have described as an indefinite nation-wide strike. The bad news occured in the absence of President Maada Bio, who is in the United Kindgdom to attend a fundraising dance of his ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP).
According to Peter Mark Jajua, Public Relations officer of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, doctors , nurses and medical professionals are protesting against poor conditions of service and government decision in May to make deductions from their monthly salaries without any explanation. Also, they are complaining that their individual weekly 45 liters of fuel has not been coming. They said that the conditions of service were no longer commensurate with the escalating cost of living in the country.
The medical personnel are also complaining about the lackadaisical manner the SLPP Government, led by former junta leader, Maada Bio, has treated their situation. The Government held meetings with them to give the impression that they were committed to solving their problems but it was all a smokescreen.
It has been woe for the sick in Sierra Leone since Monday as they have been turned away from hospitals.
