Gambia: Public Health Officers Say No Threat, Intimidation Can Dictate Their Decision

1 July 2022
The Point (Banjul)
By Pa Modou Cham

In a counter-statement to the Ministry of Health's announcement to stop the salaries of striking public health officers, the Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers of The Gambia (APEHOG) on Wednesday stated that no amount of external threat or intimidation can dictate the decision of the association regarding the current industrial action.

Starting Wednesday 29 June 2022, the Ministry of Health revealed that any Public Health Officer who continues the strike and absents from work despite the government's stance in meeting their demands would lead to the stoppage of their salaries.

The organisation, however, expressed disappointment with the ministry's statement, saying the release is primarily geared towards frustrating their efforts in finding an amicable solution to the current situation and turning the APEHOG membership against the executive.

"We want to make it clear that the current sit-down strike was a unanimous agreement by the APEHOG membership during an emergency congress and we are currently implementing what was agreed by the membership. The Executive has been communicating on a regular basis with the general membership on the every few engagements with the concerned authorities as opposed to some of the claims highlighted in the letter."

APEHOG continued that the first strike was called off in the interest of the people they serve and that was a clear manifestation of how considerate the association was in the state guarding the interest of the populace.

The statement further highlighted that the second strike commenced with the slogan No Pay, No Work, saying following the engagements with the authorities, the executive was willing to reach a compromise per approval of the allowances by the cabinet. According to them, this was just to indicate the willingness of the membership to return to work.

"This and many other compromises did by the association and the executive, in particular, are all geared towards making the strike end the soonest time possible. We have sailed too far to be dictated to or intimidated. We repeat that one cannot have an omelet without breaking an egg. We, therefore, urge all Public Health Officers to disregard the release and be reminded that our motto of "Touch one, Touch all remains firm."

GFRS condemns attack on its fire officers in New Jeshwang

Read the original article on The Point.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2022 The Point. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.