Nurses-Midwives Postpone Strike, Government Promises To Address Key Demands

By Buba Gagigo

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Association of Gambia Nurses and Midwives has said that the Government has promised to increase their travelling and risk allowances.

“They agreed to offer some because they said they cannot approve the allowances at the same time but they will look into certain areas and make adjustments. The risk allowances which is D1000 will be increased to D2000 and Transport allowance is D1500 to all nurses and midwives,” Sanna Bairo Darboe told Kerr Fatou.

This development followed a meeting they recently had with government representatives including Secretary General and Head of Civil Service; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance; Government Spokesperson; Officials of the Ministry of Health and Members of the association.

He informed that the association will on Tuesday hold another meeting with the Secretary General and Head of Civil Services, as they could not agree to other demands by the Government in the first meeting.

With this development, members of the association have postponed the sit-down strike they planned to begin on Monday.

However, the PRO said they did not agree to other offers the government made in the first round of talks; as a result, they have tentatively postponed the Monday Strike so that they can have another meeting with the government on Tuesday.

“The other amount they offer we don’t agree with them with. The amount seems to be too small and we told them we cannot, and they have to look into it. So the Secretary General advised that we go back on Tuesday to finalize that part,” Darboe said.

Mr. Darboe disclosed that the Government has admitted to the shortage of materials in the hospitals; and were very shocked by it. But promised to address the issue with immediate effect.

The National Association of Gambia Nurses and Midwives at a press conference earlier on 26th April, demanded better allowances and threatened to engage in a sit-down strike commencing on 3rd May; if their demands are not met before the day.