Nurses at the West Gonja Hospital in the Savannah Regional capital of Damongo are embarking on sit down strike starting today Monday 1st July 2019.
A statement signed by Abdul Karim Issah, Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association at the West Gonja Hospital, Damongo said management of the hospital promised to meet their demands which made them to suspend an earlier strike on 13th June 2019. Which are the demands?
The statement added that an agreement was reached between the nurses and the management of the hospital for a 10% basic salary allowances due them starting from January 2019 which the hospital failed to pay them after management promised to use four weeks to address the issue.
They also raised the issue of denial of study leave by management of the hospital and are concerned about instances where nurses have been denied study leaves simply because management sees no relevance in the course of study chosen by the staff to the hospital.
The Nurses at the West Gonja Hospital see the act to be an attempt by management of the hospital to stifle career choices and progression of staff of the hospital.
Again the Nurses alleged that they are denied promotion in the hospital.
Meanwhile, they are calling for the immediate removal of the administrator and the Matron of the hospital with immediate effect since according to the Nurses; they are the major cause of the problems in the hospital.
The West Gonja Hospital Nurses addressed their letter to the Catholic Bishop of Damongo Catholic diocese, the Savannah Regional Minister, the DCE for West Gonja and others and
The Nurses assured stakeholders, the general public and their clients of their continuous care especially maternal and child health cases as well as emergencies.
Meanwhile, a 72 hour ultimatum has been given by the nurses for the immediate removal of the matron and the administrator of the hospital.
Residents of Damongo and the other surrounding communities are shocked about the action of the nurses since the West Gonja Hospital is where many of them visit anytime there is a case within the area.
Source: Thepressradio.com/Zion Abdul Rauf
