ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Na so we dey hear am as doctors for Ethiopia don unite to go on strike for four good weeks now, since May 13. No be small matter o! Dis one na first time wey we go see doctors come together like dis in dis country wey dey pepper with tribal wahala. Dem don throway threats and arrests away, and dem no wan keep quiet. Na their bold move don shake government balance, and dem dey fear say other public workers fit follow dem go strike too.
But make we no dey think say dis one just about money o. Na principle matter wey dey ground here. Wetin start as demand for better wages don turn to call for dignity, justice, and proper reforms for the health system. As e be now, doctors dey waka for monthly salary wey get as low as 10,000 to 15,000 birr (about $70 to $100). But dem dey shoot for higher range, dey ask for $1,000 monthly salary wey go reflect the long years wey dem don invest for their education and the cost of living for the country.
Dis strike no be just about money, na d work condition sef dey jaga-jaga. Dem dey work without proper supplies, basic medicines, or even protective gear. One report from ActionAid show say 95% of healthcare workers no get the necessary tools wey dem need. For places like Amhara region, e dey worse as government forces don destroy clinics, target medical personnel and dey carry out attacks on people wey dey sick.
Doctors no just dey demand for wages, dem dey ask for safety too. Before dis strike start, security forces don already dey mistreat doctors. Na during dis strike, over 200 healthcare workers face wahala; many don experience harassment, and even some don die. Dem dey demand for legal protections and want health institutions make dem get autonomy, run based on ability, not ethnicity. Dem no want make state media dey smear their name anyhow.
As we dey look dis issue, e clear say the system dey broken: politicized, neglected, and starved of resources. D demands wey the doctors dey ask for no be only fair economically, but dem dey also sound ethically. For global level, doctors dey among the highest-paid professionals because dem don sacrifice plenty for their training. But for Ethiopia, doctors dey earn far below wetin dem suppose earn. The median annual income for doctors na about $1,124—no even reach the national average.
This no be just wahala for doctors; e dey moral and political too. Why salaries dey low? Na plenty wahala dey involve like low tax revenue wey dey restrict public spending, especially for health. Instead of helping citizens, government dey channel funds into flashy projects, while basic services dey suffer.
If person check well, dem dey mismanage funds wey fit change plenty things for the health sector. But why government no wan budge? Because if dem give doctors wetin dem dey demand, na so other workers fit join am. This one go scatter their grip on power. E normal say nobody dey like lose power. Dis strike wey doctors don plan no be mere labor issue again; e dey challenge the entire system.
Despite all the wahala and pressure, dis strike don still dey carry weight. Doctors from different regions like Tigray, Amhara, Oromia don gather for dis fight show say e no be only one ethnic group dey face suffer. Dis unity dey show say people no dey gree for suffering anymore. Even if dem get small gains from the strike, na win for all Ethiopians wey believe in fair treatment and justice.
Wetin dey happen for Ethiopia na more than just strike; it’s a big call to rethink wetin Ethiopia fit turn into someday if we fit fix di broken system.
