– as nurses ramp up protest actions for risk allowance, better condition
Nurses attached to health facilities across Linden on Friday, heightened protest action by congregating in front of the Regional Democratic Council, with the aim of gaining the attention of the newly sworn in Regional Council and other regional officials.
The protest on Friday attracted more nurses than previous days and Village Voice Guyana was reliably informed that only a skeleton staff was left at the Linden Hospital Complex and the Upper Demerara Hospital, to attend to patients. In some wards, only one nurse was left to manage affairs. Joining the protest on Friday as well, was a number of ancillary staff attached to the various institutions.
The protest commenced in front the Linden Hospital Complex and culminated at the RDC office, where the nurses engaged Regional Chairman Deron Adams, Vice Chairman Douglas Gittens and Members of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Devin Sears. As is the case with the rest of their colleagues across Guyana, the nurses expressed their frustration of putting their lives at risk, while receiving no risk allowance. The visibly frustrated nurses spoke about being issued one disposable mask per day and being told that they have to wash their disposable gowns and reuse them. The nurses also explained that the issue of risk allowance goes beyond the COVID 19 situation, since all nurses and health care professionals are at risk, even nurses attached to the Mental Health Department.
Regional Chairman Deron Adams said that his office will be making the needed representation in support of the nurses to the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Department. He said issues that are under the remit of the RDC will be looked into. Regional Member of Parliament Devin Sears, said that while the officials are not organizing the protest, they will continue to support it, until the nurses are given their due. He sympathized with the nurses and said their concerns are valid. “We need the nurses to be comfortable because they are the frontline workers and are pushing in a great deal,” he said. The nurses plan to continue the protest on Monday and Sears is encouraging all Lindeners to come out in support.
