ARTICLE - ARTICLE - CTC IN JACMEL ON STRIKE

CHOLERA - EMPLOYEES OF THE CTC IN JACMEL ON STRIKE
(HaitiLibre)

The employees of the Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) at Hopital Saint Michel de Jacmel [the largest hospital in the department of the South-East] have been absent from work since Monday, March 28, 2011. The employees demand that the health authorities give them payment of their salary arrears. According to staff-strikers, from the departure date of February 2011, of the NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) from the Hopital Saint Michel, none of the staff of the CTC has been paid so far and no explanation has been provided by health officials in this regard.

Questioning the consequences of this work stoppage, of the unique treatment center in Jacmel, which can accommodate people with cholera, employees say that they are aware of the impact that such a movement can have on people's health, but they explain that "We are obliged to observe the suspension of work in order to force the authorities to take us into consideration, because we have our families to feed."

Dr. Yves Gaston Délouche Junior, the Departmental Health Director of the Southeast, asks employees to be patient and that they will soon receive their salaries. The manager said that he has conducted an approach to UNICEF, one of the partners of his institution, seeking a favorable response to the financing of the CTC in order to break the deadlock. In fact, since the departure of MSF, the departmental health director has been looking for funds to ensure the payment of the CTC staff.

Moreover, the departmental Director of the Health of South-East has expressed his concern about a possible increase in cases of cholera in the region because of the rainy season which has just been announced. Dr. Délouche Junior asks people to be very vigilant and respect the principles of hygiene.