Health Workers Strike in Bong Mines

Doctors and nurses at the Bong Mines hospital in Farmington District, Lower Bong County has downed tools in demand of salary arrears. The health workers are demanding three months back pay owed them by the Government of Liberia since February this year. The indefinite strike, which is said to be almost in its weeks, has paralyzed the only health institution in the area.

“Since February, we have not been paid a cent by government and we cannot continue to work like baboon and monkey issue here,” Annie Kollie, an angry nurse told this paper via mobile phone Tuesday. Another staff added that three months is a long period for health workers or those involved in saving lives to go without pay.

“Hunger never made you to do better on the job, particularly the kind of work we are doing as doctors and nurses,” said another nurse only identified as Doris. Mr. Gabie Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Bong, has confirmed the health workers’ action.

However, he attributed this to delay at the Ministry of Finance in releasing allotment for the hospital despite efforts by his office to have the employees’ salaries paid.

In recent times, health workers at various public hospitals and clinics countrywide continue to ground tools in demand of back pay. The Bong Mines Hospital in Farmington District is the latest to embark on similar action. In April and May this year, health workers at government hospitals in Bomi, Nimba and Bong (Phebe) put down tools in demand of salary arrears; TKS writes