By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
Health workers attached to Mubende and Kaweri Ebola Treatment Units have laid down their tools vowing not to return to work until their monies are paid.
The health workers made their resolve this morning, 23rd November, 2022 after allegedly going for months without being their risk allowances.
Last month, the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) clashed with the Health ministry over risk allowance and compensation plans for health workers managing patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
Addressing journalists in Kampala on 2nd October 2022, Dr Samuel Oledo, the UMA president, said health workers who are treating EVD have not yet signed or received any risk allowance from the government.
“The Ministry of Health has not provided a clear compensation plan for health workers who are dedicated and risking their lives at the front lines in this tough battle against EVD, a disease with a very high fatality rate,” he said.
Dr Oledo said this has demoralised their colleagues and affected the quality of care being offered to patients.
Two health workers have died of Ebola while 65 have been quarantined because they are contacts of the victims or were exposed to the virus, according to information from the Health Ministry.
Dr Oledo also questioned the ministry over their failure to compensate families of health workers who died in the line of duty during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Aaron Nahabwe, the UMA head of welfare, said during Covid-19, the government was paying doctors a risk allowance Shs80,000 per duty.
However, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the spokesperson of the Health ministry, dismissed the UMA leaders’ assertions then arguing that, “All the teams of health workers working in the Ebola treatment units are receiving their allowances.” he said without revealing the amount.
