Health workers at Kotido General Hospital have laid down their tools due to the lack of pay for three months. The hospital remained unattended on Wednesday as the medical staff decided to stop work, citing the prolonged delay in payment of their wages.
Speaking anonymously, the medics highlighted their financial strain, emphasizing that the lack of payment for the past three months has made it impossible to sustain their families and cover essential expenses. They attribute the situation to the failure of the district to fulfill its payment obligations.
Emmanuel Lodio, the Kotido Speaker, acknowledged the workers’ strike and expressed the district’s struggle to resolve the matter. Lodio explained that salary delays stemmed from poor data capture by negligent officers.
The strike significantly impacted health service delivery, leaving numerous patients unattended. Lodio disclosed that they formally requested the Ministry of Local Government’s assistance to use the funds designated for hiring secondary school teachers to clear the salary arrears.
Ambrose Onoria, the Kotido Resident District Commissioner, confirmed the crisis, describing it as a significant disruption in the health department. Onoria stressed the severity of the situation, stating that health workers have endured more than three months without pay.
He emphasized the urgent need to address this issue to prevent further crises in health facilities. Following discussions with health officials, Onoria mentioned that they agreed to operate with a reduced staff to ensure essential services continue while the district actively works to resolve the problem.
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