Disappointed with ministry: Health officers say they sailed too far to be dictated or intimidated

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Association Public Health and Environmental Officers (APEHOG) in The Gambia have expressed utter disappointment with the Ministry of Health’s press release, adding that they have sailed too far to be dictated or intimidated.

In response to a press release by the Ministry that threatened stoppage of salary of striking public health officers who failed to resume work starting Wednesday June 29.

APEHOG described the press release referenced, FIN 420/255/01 part iv(64-m.l.J) dated June 28, 2022 signed by Muhamadou Lamin Jaiteh (PS1) as a dispatch in which they ‘deduced several misleading statements.’

“We must say we are utterly disappointed with the content of the press release and it is he least we expect from such an office,” said the association in a counter press release.

The executive of the public health and environmental officers said the Health Ministry’s release was primarily geared towards frustrating their efforts in finding an amicable solution to the current situation and turning the APEHOG membership against the executive.

The association said the current sit down strike was an unanimous agreement by the APEHOG membership during an emergency congress and they are currently implementing what was unanimously agreed by the membership.

“Hence, no amount of external threat or intimidation can dictate the decision of the association regarding the current industrial action,” they stressed.

They added that APEHOG executive has been communicating on regular basis with the general membership on the very few engagements with the concerned authorities as opposed to some of the claims highlighted in the letter.

“The first strike was called off in the interest of the people we serve and that was a clear manifestation of how considerate the association is in safeguarding the interest of the populace,” said the officers.