Fatshimetrie, September 30, 2024
Tension was palpable this Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as public sector doctors staged a sit-in to demand their alignment for the payment of their bonuses in the last quarter of 2024. A scene that illustrates the persistent difficulties faced by health professionals in the country.
The national coordinator of the collective of non-awarded doctors, Josaphat Wetshinkoy, expressed the frustration and exasperation of his colleagues in the face of unfulfilled promises by the government. Since the beginning of the year, these doctors have been waiting in vain for the government to honor its commitments regarding professional risk bonuses. Despite discussions with the relevant ministers and a meeting with the Secretary General of Public Health last week, the doctors have not obtained satisfaction.
This sit-in at the Prime Minister’s Office marks a new chapter in the fight of health professionals for recognition of their work and improvement of their working conditions. Beyond the issue of bonuses, the whole question of the valorization of the health sector in the DRC is raised. Doctors are on the front line in the fight against diseases and pandemics, and it is essential that their work is recognized at its fair value.
Faced with this mobilization of doctors, it is imperative that the authorities take concrete measures to respond to their legitimate demands. Investing in the health sector is investing in the future of the country and in the well-being of its population. Doctors deserve to be supported and valued for the essential role they play in society.
In conclusion, this sit-in at the Prime Minister’s Office is the symbol of a collective mobilization to make the voices of health professionals heard in the DRC. It is time for the government to take concrete measures to meet the legitimate expectations of doctors and to guarantee dignified and safe working conditions. The health sector is an essential pillar of a country’s development, and it is imperative to give it all the attention it deserves.