Workers at St John’s hospital in Mzuzu down tools

Workers at St John’s Hospital in Malawi’s northern city of Mzuzuh are on strike to protest against the decision by management not to renew the contract of the only doctor at the institution.

Some of the workers said the hospital, run by the Catholic Church, had been without a qualified doctor for many years until Dr Richard Nhlane was employed.

However the workers say the management has indicated it will not give Dr Nhlane a full five year contract for undisqualified reasons.

“The whole institution had been run by medical assistants which is not good at all, it needs a full time doctor,” said one of the protesting worker who asked not to be named in fear of reprisals.

The workers also accuse the institution of maladministration and lack of transparency and accountability in its financial dealings.

They also want the institution to upgrade the workers.

Meanwhile, the workers are seeking legal advise after receiving threats from the hospital’s board that they will be fired for taking part in the strike.