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Employees of Mwanza District Hospital on Monday morning went on strike demanding the removal of the District Health Officer (DHO), saying their boss treats them harshly.
An employee at the hospital, who did not want to be identified, said members of staff at the institution want the DHO, Wilson Tamaona, out because he is cruel.
“The DHO is oppressive. He scuppers other people’s chances of acquiring further education. Besides, when people work outside the duty station he demands that they get their allowances on return. He also does not allow people to get allowances in his absence,” said the employee.
He added that staff at the hospital wrote the Ministry of Health on 6th November, 2006, demanding that Tamaona be transferred but that as of yesterday the ministry had not yet responded.
“We gave the ministry November 13 as the deadline. Now that they haven’t responded, we have decided to stop working until our demand is met,” he said.
Police spokesperson for the district, Helix Malekano, who was in a committee that was trying to resolve the impasse, confirmed the development on Monday.
Malekano said Tamaona has since gone on leave awaiting a decision from the ministry on the matter.
“Since the workers were demanding that they would not work unless he is out of office, the DHO has decided to go on leave until the ministry makes its decision on the issue.
“It was only about ten people of good will that were working to help critically ill people or women delivering in the maternity wing. Following the DHO’s decision to go on leave, the workers have gone back to work,” said Malekano.
When contacted for comment, Tamaona refused to discuss the issue.
“It is a small matter and there was no strike. I cannot say anything more,” he said.
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