By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Health workers at some clinics in Grand Bassa County in the southeast of Liberia are said to be abandoning their posts due to pay difficulties.
One of such clinics is Senyah clinic in Grand Bassa #2 B, where the Officer In charge of this facility, Madam Elpha Robertson said due to no pay syndrome six health workers have left clinic thereby causing serious embarrassment for them.
Madam Robertson clinic is serving a population of 14,950 to three health workers in this part of Grand Bassa County.
The Officer in Charge disclosed in an interview recently that she (the OIC), second screener, and a midwife are the one who serving this huge population, something that is causing serious stress and constraints for them.
It is three persons doing just everything that even up to ten persons supposed to be doing, only because of the plight of health workers who left was never addressed until it passed the limit it shouldn’t have passed.
The OIC of Senyah Clinic, Grand Bassa County narrated that before the departure of those six health workers, a meeting was held and they were urged to exercise patience while she is finding solution to their plight.
The six health workers were not being paid by the Ministry of Health, but they were rather paid by the Maternal Child Survivor Program, which is no longer partnering with those clinics and hospital in Grand Bassa County.
According to her, during the meeting she encouraged them to be coming to work at least two times a week, especially Monday and Friday when patients can really flow at the facility. And they agreed on those days, but they later started staying away.
Madam Robertson added that when the six health workers started staying away from work, the clinical supervisor was sent by the county health team who beg them but his begging could not solve their financial needs.
OIC Robertson explained that since August last year and up to this July this year, she as OIC has not taken pay but being the head, she cannot leave the clinic.
Meanwhile, the Health Officer of Grand Bassa County, Dr. Anthony Tucker in an interview via mobile phone, said that it is not only the six health workers that have been affected.
Rather, he said they were 40 health workers in which six are now on incentives by the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Tucker said all those health workers were being paid by the group, Maternal Child Survivor Program but since their departure a year ago those health workers have not been paid.
The Grand Bassa County Health Officer disclosed that in recent times, the majority of them have not been going to work. Some will go on their own accord, meaning when they wish.
Dr. Tucker narrated there is a serious constraints regarding shortage of Nurses in several parts of Grand Bassa County, thereby causing problem for those who residing the County to provide health care delivery.
Complaints of the shortage of Nurses has been made to the Ministry of Health, but the County Health Officer said they working on how to solve the problem, but needs budgetary allotment to hire more nurses.