Hospital strikes continue in Central African Republic

Public hospital staff in the Central African Republic say they will carry on striking until their demands – for better working conditions, overdue Covid-19 bonuses, and the integration of temporary staff – are met.

“We’ve been striking since Wednesday and nothing has been won yet,” says Sandrine Biani of the Independent Health Workers’ Union.

A minimum service level is in place but the strikes are having a severe impact on the care patients receive, according to French news site RFI.

Health Minister Pierre Somsé says the Central African Republic is “sparing no effort to improve health professionals’ working conditions”. He has asked medics to “trust the government”, and urged the public to keep its faith in the health service.