The strike by doctors which started on Wednesday has increased in intensity after senior doctors also went on strike. When the strike started, it was only the junior doctors who were not reporting for work. However, in a letter dated today, senior doctors stated that they were also unable to discharge their duties citing that they were unable to handle the workloads on their own without their juniors to assist them.
The letter reads:
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
To The Chairman: DEPT OF OBS AND GYN
CC: H.OD.
The Clinical Director17 FEB 2017
INABILITY TO DISCHARGE DUTIES BY REGISTRARS.
The registrars in the department held a meeting and decided it was no longer safe for our patients if we continue with duties given our SRMOS are away on strike.
We tried to continue working but the demands are so exhausting such that we fear we may end up making fatal errors resulting in unwanted maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.
We have hence decided to withdraw our services with immediate effect and are however very eager to resume our duties once the juniors are available.
We hope the impasse is resolved urgently for the benefit of our patients.
Thank You
OBS AND GYN REGISTRARS
Please find attached signatures of the registrars who have agreed on this direction.
