Strike update

The Sudanese security apparatus has maintained its 'freakish' stance towards the on-going doctors' strike. The head of the Doctors' Committee, Dr Ahmed El Abwabi, and his deputy, Dr El Hadi Bakheet are still in custody and have been shifted to the notorious Kober (Cooper) Prison in Khartoum North. Additionally three more members of the Doctors' Committee have been arrested, Dr Abdelaziz Ali Jami', Dr Mahmoud, and Dr Ashraf Hammad. 

The government's position towards the strike is simply 'no mercy'. More than a hundred striking doctors have been sacked by the Khartoum Ministry of Health, and further punitive measures have been promised in case the strikers do not give in and return to the casualty departments. In a drive to replace the striking doctors the Ministry of Health has been extraordinarily active in employment of fresh graduates entering the training period 'housemanship', however the majority, it seems, have joined the struggle of their colleagues and refused to commence duty in hospitals. On the other hand university lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, have declared the freeze of instruction in hospitals in a token of solidarity with the striking doctors.