A medical specialists’ Union in Mauritania has condemned the alleged confinement of healthcare workers, patients and visitors inside a hospital in Kiffa, describing the incident as an insult to the institution and its staff.
In a statement issued on Monday, May 18, the Union accused the Governor of the Assaba region of locking the hospital’s gates with chains and padlocks, effectively trapping caregivers, administrative personnel, patients and visitors inside the facility.
The union said the actions were “not worthy of a senior official” and insisted that reforms within public institutions should be carried out through administrative and legal procedures that uphold the dignity of workers and preserve the standing of state institutions.
It further held the Assaba regional governor responsible for what it termed “humiliating measures” against the hospital community, including staff members and patients. The incident has sparked concern over the treatment of healthcare workers and the management of public institutions in the West African country.