The Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association (RNMA) has called on government to pay eleven months of unpaid allowance due its members.
According to the group, the suicide by one of its rotational nurses in the country is reason enough for government to as a matter of urgency ensure the prompt payment of the arrears owed its members.
It revealed that per accounts, the young man prior to his demise, constantly complained of the unpaid allowances due him.
Justifying its stance, the association noted that per a research conducted by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), rotation nurses and midwives contribute 70% to total healthcare delivery in the country. Nonetheless, the group noted that upon series of meetings with relevant stakeholders on matters of meeting the welfare of its members, no financial clearance has been granted, “talkless of payment”.
Contained in a statement, the group bemoaned the economic crisis confronting its members as they are unable to feed, “transport themselves to work, wash their clothing, pay light bills and rent.”
“We are by this communique, calling on government to respond urgently to the plight of Rotational Nurses and Midwives and ensure that payment are effected with immediate effect; if not, government will hear from us. We cannot wait to record more deaths all in the name of unpaid allowances. We have seen this treatment as unfair and an injustice meted to our members and noble profession.”
Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association
Government cautioned not to post members for mandatory service
Furthermore, the association cautioned the government, national service secretariat, Nursing and Midwifery Council, not to post any year group for mandatory service without financial clearance. It indicated that should that happen again, the outcome will not be favorable since the government and its ministers have “forgotten the welfare of the ordinary people they serve in this country”.
“We wish to express our profound gratitude to the leadership of the GRNMA and media houses for their good service rendered to us. We humbly plead with all senior colleagues of the Nightingale fraternity to solidarize with us in this most trying moment of our lives in rendering our professional service to our motherland.”
Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association
Subsequently, the RNMA expressed optimism that the government and stakeholders in matters in the interest of interns: Ministry of health, ministry of finance, Ghana Health Service, Christian Health Association Ghana (CHAG), and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will respond to its demands and put smiles on the faces of these interns.
Prior to this, the President of the Rotational Nurses and Midwives Association, Jasper Dzorkah, urged the Nurses and Midwifery Council to take keen interest and ensure the payment of their outstanding allowance.
Commenting on the matter, Mr Dzorkah lamented the impact this is having on members of the association while hinting at the group’s plan to withdraw their services or embark on a demonstration exercise on May 15 if government fails to pay them this week.
He however expressed that the association’s professional body, the Nurses and Midwifery Council, must intervene in the matter.
“I think that everybody must have interest in what is going on. It is not fair to look at your younger ones working on an empty stomach for 10-11 solid months, and nothing has been said about it. We admit that the economy is in crisis and that we are not in normal times. But as we speak today, all MPs and Ministers are being paid. The government has ways of paying these people, so why not sort us out?”
Jasper Dzorkah
The group has in recent times been engaging various stakeholders including the Health and Finance Ministries to give them clearance for payments to be made however that has not yielded any positive results.
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