Moroccan medics protest over conditions, staff

shortages as pandemic surges

RABAT (Reuters) - Working conditions are so bad for some medics in Morocco
handling a surging coronavirus outbreak that they have staged protests against
inadequate staffing and poorly equipped facilities.

The kingdom recorded a record 2,430 cases on Friday and has confirmed more than
1,000 new cases every day since July - the steepest increase among its North
African peers.

Some intensive care units in hospitals are overrun while other wards are full,
according to unions representing health workers, and the national nurses' movement
said at least 526 of their members had been infected, aggravating staff shortages.

Anas Qarim, a nurse working at a hospital designated to treat COVID-19 in the

central city of Meknes, said there were just three nurses and two doctors to treat
120 patients.

"Imagine wearing full protective gear in the summer heat working continuously for
hours," he said, speaking at a protest last week by dozens of medics in Rabat
demanding better pay and conditions, at least the third such demonstration in two
weeks.

A Health Ministry spokesman did not respond to requests for comment about
working conditions and inadequate staffing.