Liberia: Health workers Back to work

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A patient being catered to at local clinic in Monrovia

After almost a week, healthcare workers in Liberia  have finally cut off their go-slow strike action and are back to their respective workplaces.

 

The decision followed   an agreement reached with the government of Liberia on late last week.

Addressing journalists Friday, September 27, 2019, at the Ministry of Health in Congo Town, the Secretary-General of the National Health Workers Union of Liberia George P. Williams stated that the strike action was never their intention.

He told the media that they were constrained to do such due to what he terms ‘prolong overlooked’ of their concerns by past and present authorities.

Mr. Williams  called his colleagues to get back to their various workplaces and remain ethical in the discharge of their duties. 

Employees of JFK hospital in Monrovia

In a brief statement,  Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah who was constrained to make a quick return from the 74th  United Nations General Assembly in New York,   commended the group for their level understanding so far.

 “We want to thank all of the health workers in the country and we want to say that the government is doing its best to make sure that your needs are addressed,” Madam Jallah said.

“We will work closely with the health workers union of Liberia to make sure that whatever the negotiation process was; we both work together.

In late September this year, health workers in Liberia embarked on a nation-wide go-slow action in demand of 4 months salaries owed them by the Liberian government.

The health workers action led to a standstill of nearly all public health facilities in Liberia making it difficult for patients to seek medication.

At least one person was reported dead in River Cess County as a result of the health strike action.

The government of Liberia says it has begun processing payments of health workers salaries.

 

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