Junior doctors in Sierra Leone have gone on strike over an alleged assault on one of their colleagues working at the country’s main referral hospital.

It follows a strike by cleaners that left filth strewn all over the hospital for more than a week.

According to the aggrieved doctors, one of their female members had been physically assaulted by senior government officials during an incident at Connaught Hospital on Tuesday.

"The event is frustrating and shows the continuous disrespect by the officials at the [health ministry] towards the medical practitioners across the country," the doctors' association said in a statement.

The association has asked for the immediate resignation of the concerned officials, saying their members "don't feel safe and confident working with authorities who violate the fundamental human rights of its people".

The doctors say they will stay off work until appropriate action is taken.