Awan Achiek, Juba-South Sudan
South Sudan Doctors’ Union has issued a 72 hour ultimatum to Authorities in Unity State to apprehend killers of an aid worker, Dr. Louis Edward who was reportedly murdered by yet to be identified people in Ganyiel village on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Dr. Louis Edward Saleh, he worked for aid agency, International Rescue Committee and was deployed in Ganyiel Primary Health Care Center in Unity State.
The Unity State incident comes just a few days after Ms. Amono Anna Clara working for Cordaid, another humanitarian organization providing health services and development assistance in South Sudan was shot dead in an ambush between Chukudum and Camp 15 in Budi County, Eastern Equatoria State.
Anthony Garang, Chairperson of South Sudan Doctors’ Union warned that if the state authorities fail to apprehend the suspected killers of Dr. Edward, medical personnel across the country will go on strike.
“If nothing happens within this period, all doctors and allied professionals are prepared to lay down their tools and go on strike to demand justice and protection of health workers,” Garang told reporters during the COVID-19 media briefing on Sunday in Juba.
The Union called on the unity government to enact laws to protect the rights of health workers in the country.
“We further call on the Presidency to intervene by holding accountable any state authorities who violate the rights of health workers and we urge the unity government to enact law that protects the rights of healthcare workers in the country,” Garang said.
Babiker John Mayuol, Chairperson of Medical and Laboratory Professionals’ Union urged doctors to be vigilant and exercise safety precautions.
“We urge all health practitioners working in different states to be vigilant and adhere to all necessary security and safety,” John said during COVID-19 weekly media briefing on Sunday.
In recent months, several humanitarian and health workers have been threatened, beaten, arrested, detained, tortured, and killed in Lakes, Ruweng, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, and Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State according to the doctors’ union.
