Students at the Ziguinchor Health Training Center (CRFS/Z) expressed their frustration this Tuesday in front of the regional press. This was to denounce the precarious conditions in which they are being trained. And to alert the authorities, they decided to boycott all educational and training activities starting yesterday, for 72 hours.

If their grievances are not met, the students plan to extend the boycott for another week and hold a march if necessary.

Lansana Sonko, the president of the CRFS/Z students, explains these measures by the precarious conditions they have been experiencing for a long time during their training. According to him, this center opened in 2007 was intended to train nursing assistants. However, for several years, graduates have been taking courses for state nurses and midwives, with the same attributes as students destined to become assistants, including a scholarship set at 18,000 CFA francs, while for state nurses and midwives, it should be 40,000 CFA francs. Scholarships arrive late each year, which causes enormous difficulties, in addition to the teaching staff assigned to the training, which does not conform to their orientation.

"We can't get good teachers, that is, quality teaching. We can't get instructors, the students have to manage to study. On the social level, students spend almost 2,000 francs a day on meals. We're always behind on our scholarships. We can go six months without our scholarships. This is not normal!" raged the student president of the CRFS in Ziguinchor.

Lansana Sakho said that several steps have been taken at the administrative level to understand the root of the problem, the only response they received is that "the budget of the CRFS of Ziguinchor has never changed since 2007."

Madia Diop Sané, national coordinator of the Citizen Vision movement, called on the authorities to review the study and social conditions of these health students who, paradoxically, do not receive health care.

"We heard the Prime Minister announce the construction of ten other health training centers. At the same time, there are centers already there. The one in Ziguinchor is truly living in poverty," said Madia Diop Sané.

The latter urged them to treat these students with all due respect. "Health is the most sensitive area. We must protect these students."