Doctors march in Sofala, Mozambique, in support of a class strike

This Saturday, more than a hundred doctors marched through the streets of Beira, in central Mozambique, in support of a nationwide class strike that has been going on for more than a month, accusing the government of being insensitive.

The march was peaceful and was accompanied by the police of Beira, the provincial capital of Sofala.

Along the way, doctors shouted, “We’re not just 60,” alluding to the Council of Ministers’ threat to hire 60 new doctors to replace the striking professionals if the strike continued.

“What [o ministro da Saúde, Armindo Tiago] be attentive to this case, because it is not only ours, it is also his business, ”because he is also a doctor,” said Leonel Andela, a delegate from the Medical Association of Mozambique (AMM) in Sofal, speaking to reporters.

Andela accused the Minister of Health of being far from the feelings and demands of medical workers.

“For a functioning National Health Service, it is necessary that medical workers are well taken care of, that they are satisfied with working conditions,” he stressed.

An AMM delegate in Sofala province said there was “no healthy connection” between doctors and the government, prompting medical professionals to use other means of pressure, such as the march held today.

“We want users and civil society to join this cause, this fight, because this fight is not only about medical workers,” he stressed.

Leonel Andela assured that most of the medical staff working in the health posts of the province of Sofala provide the minimum services required by law.

Mozambican doctors have been on strike since July 10 to comply with the minimum level of services in medical institutions, protesting mainly against wage cuts under the application of the new salary table for civil servants and the lack of payment for overtime work.

JYJE // adviser

Lusa/The End