The medical staff of the State University Hospital of Haiti (HUEH) is in indefinite strike since July 6. The union denounces the mismanagement of the Hospital, an emergency dysfunctional, claims the back wages, better working conditions and the departure of the direction of the hospital.

The union, which remains firm in its position explains "... we have no personal problem with anyone, we have problems on the way the administration manages the hospital, it takes it as a private good, we say that this can not remain as a private good, it is a good of the State, when we are sick we come here, that's what we claim today..."

The Directorate of HUEH, claims not to have a sufficient budget to meet the demands of the strikers that it accuses to have dumped garbage and medical waste within the enclosure of the health facility "...I do not quite understand how the staff working in a health institution, can use waste and even medical waste, as a way to claim. A work stoppage or strike is something that is constitutional, but there are ways to do it, because using waste that are virulent it is endangering the health of patients and of staff [...] an outbreak of epidemic can be created..." has informed the Dr. Alix Lassègue, Executive Director of HUEH. "...At the ministry level we will take steps not only to restore the safety of the hospital, but also against these unacceptable acts ... " said the Minister Alex Larsen.

Rose Belot Bernard of the union of nurses and Félix Lévy Milot, of the union of health workers, require major changes at the head of the institution including the departure of Dr. Alix Lassègue [who does not intend resign] and that of Marlène Thompson, the Administrator of the hospital who does not intend to yield to these demands "...I am not decided to leave because it is a ministry that gave me an appointment letter, it is a ministry who employed me. Employees who come before me, may have a reason behind to say that I have to go, what their reasons ? They have never, I am surprised now that I am a badly brought (une mal élevée)..."

Meanwhile, unsanitary conditions spread in the hospital. Parents [the lucky ones], are forced to self-administer care to their family member, but for others, the lives of some of their parents hospitalized are in danger, due to progress of the infections and the lack of care...

HL/ HaitiLibre