By Adama Makasuba
The ministry of health has ordered the striking public health officers to return to work today or risk punishment including suspension of their salaries.
Muhammed Lamin Jaiteh, Permanent Secretary 1 of the ministry of health said in a release: “we, therefore, urge all striking members of the Public and Environmental Health Officers under the Ministry of Health to report back to work with immediate effects.”
“To this end, all Unit Heads are hereby urged to write down the list of staff who failed to show up for work starting tomorrow Wednesday 29th June 2022 at 8:00 am. Thereafter, administrative actions will be taken against those who are deliberately absent from work including stoppage of their salary and other steps,” he added.
“The office is rising to the fact that despite all efforts made by the leadership of the ministry of health as explained by the latest engagement between the hon. minister and the executive of the Association of the Public and Environmental Officers highlighted the concern and plight of the citizenry, the said executive went back making disrespectful statements against the authorities,” he added.
“The ministry had had an extensive discussion with the executive members of the Association explaining to them all the positive steps that the government is taking to ensure that the extra allowances are paid to the public health and other health workers. These steps are very near completion as we speak. To our disappointment, it looks like the executive members are not relaying the correct information to the general membership thereby misleading the general membership into continuing the strike action which is detrimental to the citizenry.
“We have also noticed that more members of the executive committee are not happy any time we are close to a solution in our discussion with them. This goes further to imply that such members do not have the interest of the association or the country at heart.”