At least 1000 patients have died since health workers in Mozambique began a week-long strike over poor working conditions in the Southern African country, the health workers’ union, Association of United Health Professionals of Mozambique (APSUSM) said.

Over 50,000 union members have been in negotiations with the Mozambique government for three weeks since the strike started, but the two parties have yet to reach an agreement, leaving no one to care for patients in hospitals around the country.

According to the APSUSM chairperson Anselmo Muchave, who spoke to the BBC, most of the deaths, which the British media outlet has not been able to independently verify, were reported in the provinces of Inhambane and Sofala.

“We receive information every day about deaths,” said Mr Muchave. “The worst-affected facilities are those staffed only by health workers and not doctors,” he added.

Nurses, psychologists, drivers and cleaners are among the striking workers.

Mr Muchave said the striking workers are fighting for overtime allowances, better working equipment and other dire working conditions which the government is reluctant to tackle.

The Mozambique health ministry had previously accused APSUSM of exaggerating the problem facing the country’s health sector.

A U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) report said more than half of the country’s population must walk for at least one hour or more to visit the nearest health facility.