Over the past two weeks, Bong Advocacy for New Direction, BAND, a registered advocacy group with a branch based here in the United States and another branch in Liberia, with members mostly from Bong County, has been closely monitoring the grave situation which has stalled and paralyzed operations at various hospitals across the country, especially in Bong County.

BAND, in conjunction and collaboration with its members on the ground in Liberia, has deemed it necessary to generate the following positions in an effort to advance a resolution to the situation which is sadly taking a toll on the lives of our citizens:

BAND calls on the Government of Liberia, the Ministry of Health, Elected Officials, and all stakeholders to arrange or initiate a negotiation forum where grievances will be logically and rationally heard. BAND urges that any negotiation that will be adopted by the Government of Liberia and the Health Worker Association should focus on or take into account the health and hopes of the future generations of Liberia.

BAND urges the immediate support of efforts by the Government of Liberia to address the economic injustice with regards to the Health Workers pay grade which brought rise to the situation on hand. BAND will support any effort by the Government to offer a balanced solution by recognizing the needs of the Health Workers, especially the nurses.

BAND is extremely concerned with the inflammatory languages of the Government of Liberia's Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Walter Gwenigale's threat to dismiss health workers, especially nurses, instead of resolving to negotiate with the Health Workers Association. The Minister's approach with threat instead of negotiation is "bullying" and it will seriously undermine the health sector of Liberia.

BAND strongly supports a structure that will improve coordination among the Government of Liberia, nurses and other health workers for the sake of our citizenry. We even support the formation of a panel dedicated to this effort.