HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - August 21, 2009 --
Zimbabwe's prime minister is urging striking doctors to return to work.Morgan Tsvangirai made the call in a speech to the Zimbabwe Medical Association Friday. The nationwide strike began Aug. 11.Zimbabwe's government began paying doctors in U.S. dollars after former opposition leader Tsvangirai joined a coalition in February. The doctors' salaries in Zimbabwean dollars had become worthless because of runaway inflation.
Now the doctors want their salaries increased from $170 a month to $1,000.
The first cases of swine flu in Zimbabwe were reported this week, putting new pressure on the southern African country's health sector.