Dr Ulimboka`s condition improving, reports MAT

                                                  Dr Edwin Chitage

he condition of the recently kidnapped leader of the striking doctors in the country, Dr Stephen Ulimboka is said to be improving though he is still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Dr Ulimboka, who is admitted at a hospital in Johannesburg South Africa, was at the weekend reported to be in coma.

Secretary General of the Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT), Dr Edwin Chitage told The Guardian that they are waiting for the medical report from his doctor. He said that Dr Ulimboka is still in the ICU because he needs close monitoring.

“We are waiting for the doctor’s report to establish the exact health complications facing Dr Ulimboka for now, but he is generally doing well contrary to recent media reports that he was in a state of coma,” he noted.

According to him, the doctor could only release the medical report once permitted by the patient.

Dr Ulimboka was last month found badly injured at Pande Forest on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam after being kidnapped by people who have not yet been identified.

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Sulemani Kova speaking about the hijack said Dr Ulimboka was found seriously wounded in the forest at on the very night he was kidnapped.

He sustained serious wounds apparently from the heavy beatings he received from the armed attackers, who took him from the Leaders Club at around 11pm.

Commander Kova said the police force has formed a probe team to investigate the attack led by Head of Dar es Salaam Special Criminal Police Zone, ASP Msangi.

However, the doctors refused to recognise any investigation carried by the police force, instead preferring an independent team.

On Saturday, a section of religious leaders issued five conditions to the government they deem could give a clue to ending the two-week doctors’ strike that has severely hampered medical services in the country.

The announced conditions include withdrawal of the pending lawsuit on the strike filed by the government at the High Court, reinstating all sacked doctors and resumption of negotiations between the government and the doctors under the chairmanship of President Jakaya Kikwete.

Other conditions include involving religious leaders as well as those of activists in the resumed negotiations, give doctors’ security assurance and establsih an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the kidnapping and beating up of Dr Steven Ulimboka.

Speaking at the media briefing, Muslim Communication Council director Chifu Msopa, insisted that suspending doctors is not a solution to the prevailing problems in the health field, saying the government spends huge sums of money to train the medical doctors.

He therefore argued that it was the President’s responsibility to listen to the doctors.

 

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN