The Autonomous Union of Health Workers (Sat-Santé/El Hadj Ahmadou Sakhir Ndiéguéne Hospital Section of Thiès) expressed its satisfaction at having followed the call for a 48-hour strike following the Action Plan of the National Federation F2S.

The white coats returned to the points of disagreement concerning: "fairness in salary treatment by hierarchy, function and responsibility; the generalization of the housing allowance; special recruitment in the civil service and the cessation of the exploitation of graduates in the sector by reducing the staff deficit estimated at more than 18,000 agents and the end of contractualization".

Added to this are "respect for and implementation of all signed agreements and finalization of discussions with other Ministerial departments; career management and revision of legislative and regulatory texts which have become obsolete; the regulation defining the situation at the level of local authorities; the delimitation of the fields of action of certain agencies such as the pharmaceutical regulatory agency to avoid certain abuses; the implementation of the points contained in the social stability pact".

The Thiès Regional Hospital branch took the opportunity to review all the problems facing the healthcare facility and its staff. "Indeed, the Thiès Regional Hospital branch is run by young people who are frustrated and dissatisfied with the way the Thiès hospital is managed," stated the general secretary, Ibrahima Mbaye.

Healthcare workers also reported "difficulties related to patient reception and triage, and outdated equipment (scanner, mammography machine, endoscopy machine, breast ultrasound machine, dental chair) that frequently broke down." They also cited a "significantly insufficient number of beds, trolleys, and IV poles."

Ibrahima Mbaye and his colleagues raised concerns about "the need for more comprehensive training to improve patient care; and the irregular status of long-term trainees (over 5 years of training)." They expressed outrage that, in fact, "more than 70% of the staff in the Emergency Department and the Pharmacy are trainees. This reluctance to regularize their status has led to pre-employment arrangements where long-term trainees remain for another two years before being offered a permanent contract."

Added to this is "the categorization of motivation. At the Thiès Regional Hospital, motivation is a source of discrimination, whereas when we talk about motivation, it should be equal from the director to the janitor." He also denounced: "Workers no longer receive medication because of 'consignment sales,' and the incentive based on future revenue of 25% every three months is difficult to implement."

Regarding childcare allowance, we cannot accept that fathers or mothers leave their homes to perform 32 hours of childcare per month on weekdays and 96 hours of childcare on public holidays with a remuneration of 10,000 FCFA at the end of the month.

Ibrahima Mbaye and his colleagues believe that "this compensation is unacceptable for a hospital that prides itself on providing quality care." They also point out that contract workers at the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene do not receive risk allowances or housing benefits like contract workers at Public Health Establishments (EPS).