A growing sanitation crisis is unfolding at Tamale Central Hospital as sections of casual staff have embarked on a sit-down strike over five months of unpaid salaries.
The industrial action, led by orderlies and other support staff, has already begun to take a toll on the cleanliness of the facility. Piles of garbage and unpleasant odours are reported to have taken over parts of the hospital, while several wards and washrooms have been left in deteriorating conditions. This has raised serious concerns among patients, visitors, and health professionals about the potential risk to health and safety.
The striking workers say they have been pushed to the brink after months of working without pay. According to the Secretary of the orderlies, Adam Sulemana Baba, the decision to withdraw their services was not taken lightly.
“We cannot continue to work under these conditions without receiving our salaries,” he stated in an interview with the media. He emphasised that the workers will not return to their duties until all outstanding payments are made.
The situation has disrupted essential support services within the hospital, highlighting the critical role casual staff play in maintaining hygiene and operational efficiency in healthcare facilities.
Patients and their families are now calling on hospital management and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and resolve the impasse before the situation escalates further.
As the standoff continues, fears are mounting that prolonged poor sanitation could compromise patient care and increase the risk of infections within the hospital.
By: Prince Kwame Tamakloe/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
