After more than a month of strike, nothing is working at the country’s largest public hospital. Although the hospital union’s leaders announced a truce on March 31, the State University of Haiti Hospital is struggling to get back on track and faces the risk of further protests.<\/p>\n
Dilapidated beds sit in the courtyard. Cars with government plates are parked. At the entrance to the emergency department, a few employees sit calmly.<\/p>\n
Welcome to the capital’s largest public hospital, which had been on strike since late February.<\/p>\n
Although the hospital union’s leaders announced the end of the strike after a meeting with health authorities, activities were still at a standstill as of Thursday, April 7.<\/p>\n
Jacquelyn, who has worked at the hospital for 27 years, said she does not understand the end of the strike.<\/p>\n
“It’s a verbal truce,” she said when we met in the emergency department, as if to downplay the strikers’ decision.<\/p>\n
Indeed, there is no sign of a return to normal. The rooms are empty. No department is operating. The doctors, especially the residents, are nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n
“See for yourself. Nothing is happening here. It’s as if we were still on strike,” said another employee.<\/p>\n
If the strikers reached an agreement with the health authorities to end the strike, why are activities still paralyzed at the General Hospital, many are asking.<\/p>\n
“If nothing is working at the hospital despite the end of the strike, it’s because the resident doctors have decided not to come to work, since they haven’t been paid in 8 months,” explained union president Evelyne Fremond.<\/p>\n
The union’s decision to end the strike is not unanimous within the sector. Employees of the General Hospital and other public hospitals have expressed their dissatisfaction with the withdrawal.<\/p>\n
“To launch the strike, they contacted us, but to end it, we learned the news on the radio,” said an employee of another public hospital, whose identity we are withholding.<\/p>\n
Word is that the union’s leaders received bribes and negotiated positions with the authorities to back down, a claim brushed aside by Evelyne Fremond.<\/p>\n
“I’ve heard rumors suggesting we received money from the authorities to end the strike. That’s completely false,” Evelyne insisted, challenging anyone to prove the allegation.<\/p>\n
Evelyne Fremond wants to be reassuring. “No, the struggle has not been sold out,” she insisted, saying equipment is already starting to arrive at the hospital, even if it is invisible, at least for now.<\/p>\n
Beds, mattresses, oxygen, IV fluids: the hospital still lacks everything, despite promises made by officials at the Ministry of Public Health and Population.<\/p>\n
While doubt hangs over the resumption of activities at the General Hospital, resident doctors are threatening to strike to demand 8 months of back pay. The HUEH is not out of the woods yet!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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