By Ragan M. Conteh

Dissatisfied doctors of Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (MDA) has, in a press conference held on Monday 21st October 2024 at Connaught Hospital, promised to go on sit-down strike on Wednesday should the Ministry of Health failed to give them their fuel allowance.

According to the President of the association, Dr. Fredde Cole, there have been negotiations for the past several months with the authorities concerned to address this issue but woefully failed to meet their demands.

He said if the Ministry of Health failed to give Doctor’s allowance across the country, they will stop their services until their demands are adequately met.

He said they have a barrage of issues to be address but that they will start with the fuel allowance as spring board and later confront the others.

Dr Cole maintained that the strike action is not a calculated ploy to undermine government but rather a means to avert brain drain in the country.

He said it is better to go on strike and ask emolument that due them rather allowing professionals to leave the country and seek green pastures overseas.

He revealed that the strike action will not affect critical cases of patients that are in hospital as according to him they will have ways and means of ameliorating such situation but the strike action will go on as planned indefinitely.