Mama Fouda’s gimmick to avert Doctors strike flops

The lexical gimmick devised by Public Health Minister, Andre Mama Fouda, to trick doctors into calling-off their planned strike action has flopped.

Mama Fouda, assisted by Minister Gregoire Owona of  Labour and Social Security and IssaTchiroma Bakary of Communication, May 12, launched a publicity stunt at a press conference in Yaoundé when they asserted that the Government is resolute to provide low cost quality healthcare to its citizens and not the universal Health Insurance which the medics are clamouring for.  

The press conference organised hours to the announced strike action by medical doctors, was intended to pep talked the medics into calling off their planned strike action.  

However, Mama Fouda’s utterances at the press conference seem to have further rekindled the strike spirit among the doctors, who are demanding for Universal Health Insurance and better working conditions.

But the Public Health boss said Universal Health Insurance was not Government’s priority.

“This Universal Health Insurance leads to imbalance access to healthcare and a significant burden on households in terms of health expenditure,” Mama Fouda argued.

Meanwhile, after watching the press conference, the Syndicate of Cameroon Medical Doctors (SCMD) expressed resentment at Mama Fouda’s utterances.

According to them, the patronising attitude displayed by the Minister towards doctors cannot deter them from embarking on the strike action.

According to them, their May 15 to 17strike must go on.

In a press release signed by the SCMD President, Dr. Bassong Pierre Yves, on May 12, he said all medical doctors are to stay home, while observing the strike because they are not safe at the hospital.

He said Doctors on call and emergency must wear a black armband during the strike.