Posted by By Fatou Jaiteh
The Association of Gambian Nurses and midwives on Wednesday commenced a sit down strike over low pay and other welfare needs. The association have maintained that they would not relent until the government meets their demands.
It is understood that in April this year, the association had issued an ultimatum to the Gambia government to meet their demands or else they would go on a sit down strike. The protest is said to be in two forms, the first of which is what was held on 1st of September 2021.
The communications unit of the association declared that the second phase of the strike would take place on 4th of September 2021, when no nurse would report to work and all departments would be closed except for the Emergency department, labour ward, Dialysis ICU, Neonatal and operating theatre.
In its reaction, the ministry of health has issued a press release on 31st August, threatening action against nurses and midwives if they refuse to call off the proposed strike.
It is highlighted in the press release that the payment of nurses’ allowances had already commenced and that the Central Bank has been posting the payment to individual bank accounts.
The release stated that none of the nurses should fail to report to work, because some of them have already received their allowances.
The release further requested regional health directors, heads of health institutions and heads of units to take note of all those who fail to report to work without a valid excuse, warning that any one found wanting would be dealt with according to the appropriate laws.
The spokesperson of the association, Sana Darboe, said that the press statement by the ministry of health that payment of the allowances has already started with some nurses is a ploy to derail their action.
Mr Darboe further insisted that the nurses would carry on until all of them have been paid their allowances, adding that only a handful of the nurses have received the said money and that the remaining members will make sure that they get what they are entitled to.
In a related development, the Association of resident Doctors The Gambia, GARD, on Tuesday 30th August 2021 issued a press statement to advise both the Government and nurses to cooperate in order to prevent a catastrophe in the health sector.
According to the statement the proposed strike by the nurses would only be at the detriment of the general public as there are so many sick people out there yearning for medical attention, especially amid the Covid 19 pandemic.
GARD urged the government through the ministry of health to look in to the welfare of the health workers and to allocate proper remuneration so as to motivate them.