Karonga DC fails to persuade District Hospital support staff to end strike

District Commissioner for Karonga, Richard Hara,  has failed in his bid to stop the strike by junior workers at Karonga District Hospital (KDH) to force management to transfer five of its administrative staff for allegedly failing to address problems that have rocked the hospital.

The workers vowed to continue with the sit-in until their grievances are addressed.

Speaking later after a discussion with hospital management, Hara appealed to the staff to resume work saying that he will institute a commission of inquiry to look into the matter within 14 days.

‘‘With the current policy of decentralization, council staffs cannot simply be transferred from one district to another. As such, we have decided to give the five an administrative leave while the inquiry is taking place,’’ Hara said.

However, this did not please the junior workers, who said they will not resume work until the five officers are redeployed.

According to a petition which was addressed to the District Commissioner (DC) and District Health Officer (DHO) among others, the support staffs allege that there is poor health service delivery despite government remitting funds to the hospital.

‘‘Huge amount of money is shared among few management individuals through allowances while the services at the facility are poor,’’ reads part of the petition which bears over 100 signatories.

The striking workers include hospital attendants, ground labourers and cleaners.

The officers the junior workers want transferred include nursing officer Maloni Nyirenda, hospital administrator Alex Chilombo, human resource officer Mavuto Kawonga, procurement officer Stuart Chirambo and maintenance officer Mc Donald Kamwela.

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