ONE OF THE hallmarks of good governance is the ability of leaders to be frank, sincere, pragmatic, transparent and accountable in dealing with and resolving issues, as well as being proactive and living up to commitments.
ONE YEAR AGO, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government of President George Manneh Weah had on its hands threats of strike, which later culminated into actual strike action, by Liberian health workers led by the National Health Workers Union of Liberia (NAHWUL).
SOME OF THE same demands that have prompted the current strike action were on the table back in May, June, July, August and September of 2019 when the government, including Finance Minister Samuel Tweah promised to do “everything possible” to provide redress. Among other things, their grievances included improving the pay and conditions for health workers, certificating their union. But none of those these have to date been met, despite repeated assurances. Conditions such as lack of basic things like gloves, masks, drugs and medical supplies were pronounced then like they are now in our public health facilities. Yes, the government did some time ago announced putting some 2,000 health workers on payroll.
TO ADD INSULT to injury, the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit Liberia early this year, with the government making yet another promise to give more support to the health sector and provide hazard and stimulus package for our thousands of poorly paid health workers in the country. Demand for this features in their latest grievance that has prompted the ongoing strike, which started on September 16, 2020.
WHAT IS ANNOYING the health workers, some of their leaders tell Journalists is that top government officials who have been in meetings with them constantly issue threats and intimidation, instead of reaching out for genuine dialogue and compromise.
WHAT IS ANNOYING the health workers is that they see state resources being directed at luxury cars/vehicles and fat allowances to top political leaders, who usually get on flights to seek medical treatment abroad; when the pay and conditions of local health workers and facilities remain shabby. In the interim, they continue to hear the Finance Ministry boasting that the government has experienced budget surplus in the now ended fiscal 2019/2020 budget year.
AGAINST THIS BACKDROP, this is why it is troubling, though not surprising, to hear the the Ministry of Information announced over the weekend (Saturday, September 19, 2020) that President George Weah has instructed the Ministry of Health ‘to hire new health workers to replace those protesting for better working conditions.’
SUCH A MOVE at this time is not only disgusting but insensitive to both the plight of the struggling Liberian Health workers, but also the largely impoverished Liberian population, many of whom cannot afford to pay the limited amounts required to get medical treatment the poorly funded public health facilities in the capital, Monrovia let alone facilities in outlying regions.
- PRESIDENT AND your team of officials, your latest decision is wrong, counter- productive and it has every propensity to backfire. Let it be known that mere official pronouncements without doing the necessary SWAT analysis of a situation tend to do more harm than good.
THE NUMBER OF health workers in the country’s public health sector is said to be hovering around 11,000. Let’s say as the strike action continues and the dissatisfaction, even anger and frustration amongst health workers swell and the number actively striking reaches fifty percent, where are the available, trained and experience professional willing and ready to work, Mr. President? Where will the resources the government says are not now available come to take care of your new recruits? Are you calculating the delicate nature of the health sector—life and death? Don’t you think, leaders have the responsibility to solve problems and must be prudent as to how and when to use the carrot and the stick? Has the government run out of options and is only allowing itself to grow into being reactionary and not proactive?
THE CHOICE IS left with the government but in taking any crucial national decision such as this, the resulting consequences must be cleverly weighed to promote the best interest of the public. This latest decision is indeed troubling!