Protesting health personnel of the Yaounde Emergency Hospital arrested.

By Washira Helene

More than 15 health personnel of the Yaounde Emergency Hospital who have been protesting since the 12th of May 2023, were arrested on the morning of, the 5th of June 2023.

The health workers had been demonstrating at the Ministry of public health over unpaid wages.

Many of them complained of the poor treatment from the authorities despite over nine years of diligent services to this healthcare sector. In addition to unpaid salaries, the protesters complained of poor working conditions with vague promises made to them each time they try requesting improvements.

“For many months now we have not been paid our salaries. Despite the complaints we have been putting up, we keep receiving fake promises and we cannot keep taking it,” explained one of the protesters.

The protesters went on to explain that despite the fake promises made to them, they kept showing up for work because of the love they have for their jobs, but went on to add that there is a limit to their endurance:

“How do they expect you to keep coming to work when you don’t even have transportation money again? No food. How do we even take care of our families?” another queried.

The lack of an appropriate response from the hospital administration forced them to march to the Ministry of Public Health hoping that their plight will be addressed by a higher authority.

Unfortunately, the response from the Ministry was far from what they anticipated, as after a few hours of protests, they were taken out of the premise by armed security forces who according to one of them were sent by Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health.

The Minister who is known for having an active presence on Twitter, has so far not made a comment on today’s incident.

Those arrested were reportedly taken to the Yaounde Central police station, where it is unclear on what grounds they were arrested.

This act has been widely criticised by many Cameroonians who took to social media to denounce what they termed “injustice”.