JFK Nurses Go- Slow.By: Mare Mengonfia – mmenginfia@gmail.com

Nurses at one of Liberia’s biggest referral  hospitals, John F. Kennedy( JFK) on Thursday  morning  laid  down their nursing equipment in protest for pay and salary increments. They stood in the rain singing songs such as; “the walls of salary must go up. We are tired, today is today change our story, we tired.”Those health workers said that their action  will continue  until the Liberian government ensures that drugs and batter payment are made.

Just few days ago, pregnant women and baby mothers placed road blocks at the du- port road junction when they were denied treatment at that government run.

All those are happening at the time that Liberian President is in the United Sates attending the United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA).

It is due to the issue of healthcare workers protest, health minister Dr. Jallah was made to return from the UNGA to ensure that things are settled in time.

Ministry says salaries ready:
As the strike went on, the  Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning announced that United States Dollars and Liberian Dollars checks for employees of John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital have been issued for disbursement.

The checks have been issued to JFK’s management for prompt disbursement of employees’ salaries.

The Ministry clarified  that health workers were protected from salaries reduction under the salaries harmonization exercise. In fact, thousands of health workers got salaries increases, the statement said.

“Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning hereby reiterates that pursuant to the commitment of the Government, the August and September salaries of ALL civil servants are being progressively processed and disbursed,” it concluded. TNR