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Nurses in Sierra Leone has requested for improvement of conditions of service, which includes a 50% salary increment and a 100% increase in transportation and remote allowances.
The nurses made this request in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation dated on Friday, 15 July 2022.
“… with reference to the above subject matter and to bring to your notice about the deduction of the PAYE from the nurses’ allowances in the month of May 2022 and onwards without informing us as key stakeholders and beneficiary about such an action. This has caused serious impact on our earnings Stake bearing in mind the increasing cost of living. You will agree with me that even before these deductions were made, nurses have been finding it difficult to cope considering the harsh economic situation in Sierra Leone,” the nurses stated.
The nurses noted that representatives of the interim executive of the Sierra Leone Nurses Association have attended two meetings with the Ministry of Health and government officials to discuss the aforementioned.
“It is unfortunate that since those meetings were held, much has not happened and this indicates that the issue at hand has not been accorded the importance and seriousness it deserves,” they stated.
The nurses further stated that, “Hon Minister Sir, it is against this backdrop that the general membership of the Sierra Leone Nurses Association now outlines the following for your prompt attention and action:
1. A fifty percent (50%) salary increment for all nurses irrespective of cadre be effected without further delay.
2. Basic consumables be made available to nurses to enable them carry out their daily nursing activities in their respective facilities at all times.
3. There is need to initiate and implement as a matter of urgency a Health Insurance Scheme for all nurses.
4. A one hundred percent (100%) increment to the transport and remote allowances.”
“Please be informed that the Sierra Leone nurses Association stands ready and available for dialogue and a negotiated settlement to the issues outlined above, and a window period of a fortnight is respectfully accorded to your honourable Minister to revert,” they added.
