President Nkurunziza warns EAC doctors against striking
Nairobi doctors demonstrate the jailing of their colleagues for calling a strike on January 12, 2017. They have vowed to resume the job boycott if they are not paid for the 100 days they refused to work. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
What you need to know:
- Prof Gibson Kibiki called upon doctors working in the East African Community member's states to always embrace dialogue.
- The Burundi president said scientists should avoid unhealthy competition and embrace synergy to grow the sector.
BUJUMBURA, Burundi
BurundiPresident Pierre Nkurunziza has cautioned doctors against going on industrial strikes because they put the lives of patients at risk.
President Nkurunziza said doctors should approach their work with all the seriousness required.
"Most of them prefer going to the streets for their grievances to be addressed, not considering the fact that people are dying. This is inhuman," President Nkurunziza said during the sixth East African Health and Scientific Conference in Bujumbura on Friday.
"Whoever lands a helping hand to God in any health care related activity should be proud of it and refrain from any behaviour or attitude that is likely to affect life in a negative way."
His comment was in reaction to the 100-day nationwide doctors' strike in Kenya that saw the public health sector suffer irreparably.
Doctors were clamouring for increase of pay and better working conditions.
On matters research, the Burundi president said scientists should jettison unhealthy competition and embrace synergy and best practices so that the sector can grow.
The event began on March 29 focusing on control of disease outbreaks, climate change, globalisation and fissures in the health industry; attended by more than 500 stakeholders.
Doctors from various private hospitals and universities in Kisumu demonstrate on February 14, 2017, calling for the release of jailed union officials. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Prof Gibson Kibiki, Executive Secretary of the East African Health Research Commission, called upon doctors working in the East African Community member's states to always embrace dialogue in addressing grievances.
"Each and every country here has had issues but we have to find away of solving them," he said.
Prof Kibiki said that globalisation and climate change are major challenges because they affect the wellbeing of people.
