12 Jun 2017 | 08:29 AM UTC
Cameroon: Nationwide public hospital doctors strike June 12
Doctors in the SYMEC union will launch a strike throughout the country starting on June 12; confirm medical appointments and avoid all protests
Event
The SYMEC (syndicat des médecins du Cameroun) union leaders called for a nationwide public hospital doctors strike starting on Monday, June 12, to demand better working conditions and higher pay. This strike will likely result in a lack of staffing at many of the country’s hospitals. The duration of the strike remains unclear.
Context
The strike comes amid an ongoing sociopolitical crisis in Cameroon and, although not closely linked to other strikes and protests happening elsewhere in the country, this pushback by the country’s medical community contributes to the overall domestic turmoil. In April, doctors in Yaoundé launched a 48-hours strike with the same demands.
Advice
Individuals present in Cameroon are advised to monitor developments to the situation, confirm any doctor’s appointments, and avoid all protests due to the potential for violence.
Some Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the Far North region as well as areas bordering Nigeria, Chad, and the Central African Republic; travel to these areas should only be considered with appropriate security protocols in place.
