**Sierra Leone’s president has ordered striking health workers to return to work or face the sack.**President Ernest Bai Koroma on Friday hinted that the work stoppage may have led to some deaths in the country, which is recovering from civil war.
The country’s doctors and nurses stopped work on 18 March, demanding a 500% pay rise.
The government has agreed to double their pay, which is currently between $40 and $100 (£67) a month.
The industrial action has so far led to the closure of the country’s main children’s hospital and several wards at the main maternity hospital in the capital Freetown.
“Your concerns are justifiable. The only unfortunate thing is that not all of them can be afforded now. But meanwhile, go back to work”
President Ernest Bai Koroma
Army and police doctors are filling in at some hospitals, reports the AFP news agency.
The president appealed to all retired doctors, midwives, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technicians to be on standby in case they are needed.
He also put the police on alert to provide security for hospitals in the event that the striking workers attempt to force their colleagues to stay away.
On Thursday, talks between President Koroma and the striking workers collapsed, even though he said their demands were justifiable.
“The only unfortunate thing is that not all of them can be afforded now. But meanwhile, go back to work,” he said.
The strike comes as the country prepares to introduce free medical healthcare for pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers, as well as children under five years.