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Liberia: Lawmaker Wants Health Workers Abandon Strike
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The NEWS (Monrovia)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Alloycious David
Monrovia
The House Committee on Health and Social Welfare is appealing to medical workers to abandon their strike action which has paralyzed activities at the G.W. Harley Hospital in Sanniquellie, Nimba County.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Representative Edwin Power Gaye said it is unfortunate for medical workers including nurses to strike.
Mr. Gaye said "We are taken aback by the decision of the nurses to go-slow; their action has led to the abandonment of patients at the hospital."
He said it was wrong for nurses to abandon their patients, which according to him, runs contrary to health delivery system.
He said medical workers should prioritize the interest of patients because they took oath to provide all the necessary medication and care to restore patients' safety.
Appealing to the health workers to return to work, Gaye said "we have initiated negotiation with officials of the Ministry of Health and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) aimed at finding solution to the problem."
Also speaking, a member of the Health Committee Representative Jackson S. Fiindor said the committee will hold discussions with the aggrieved workers in Sanniquellie next week.
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Mr. Fiindor disclosed that the aggrieved workers, in a communication to Representative Gaye, alleged that they signed contract with IRC which is expected to phase out next October.
He indicated that IRC has acknowledged that it would phase out in October but denied entering a contract with the nurses as alleged.
"We have planned an emergency trip to Nimba to hear from the medical practitioners, following which we will come out with a decision," Gaye added.
I think that in a democratic nation like Liberia, worker's strike action is a necessary weapon aggrieved workers can use to attract attention of institutions concerned. However, this can be justified only after all other legal means to get attention of authorities concerned have been exhausted. If this is the case with the Nurses in Nimba County, Liberia, then their strike action is in place. On the other hand,let the Nurses be willing to go back to work for the sick of their patients and for the love of saving precious lives of Liberians before authorities meet with the Nurses.
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