LATEST; UNIMEDTHC MANAGEMENT STIRRING AN IMPENDING DANGER. Olabanji Joel

From my last report, it was stated that the six sacked nurses have been called back. While being thankful to God and the media for the success, we are not to forget the pay cut which happened when #33,000 was deducted from the salary of the single qualified newly employed nurses and #2000 from the double qualified newly employed nurses from the February salary with 4months arrears still unpaid. On 22nd April, 2020, a meeting was called by the Chief Medical Director of the institution in person of Dr. Oluwole Ige and at the meeting, they were informed that March and April salary won't be paid unless the hospital gets the subvention from the government. The summary of the meeting goes thus; 1. The newly employed workers are to wait till the March subvention comes in( which could come in a week time, two or more), then they take their march salary 2. The newly employed health workers be hopeful and prayerful that the process in taking of salary to the central payment unit which is headed by the accountant general should be done on time because it takes quite some processes, after which they can start recieving our salaries regularly from the central point. A worker in the institution said all those employed by UNIMEDTHC administration won't get paid till may and that includes the nurses, doctors, lab scientists etc. A nurse who bitterly complained said they were still struggling to survive as they've not received four months salaries then now receiving the information that March and April Salary won't be paid really devastated them and the morale to work effectively became diminished. She said " I can't count how many "next week" I've heard from UNIMEDTHC". Moreover, they have been talking about this issue of moving us now since February and April is about ending already, they are still pushing it till May again". Another nurse also said non payment of the March and April Salary will make it 5months unpaid salary in total and the newly employed nurses are not motivated to give their best to caring for the sick. While gathering the information, a doctor also complained saying several factors in the hospital have made the work not encouraging as most of the workers in the hospital are not happy working. He further stated that maybe the work should be left for the Hospital Management Board employed staff since they will be the only one to get April salary. A laboratory scientist who was contacted also informed me that receiving the information really discouraged them as this shouldn't happen at a time when Lassa Fever and Covid-19 are on rampage in the country. He further stated that better life for all workers should be the aim of the management and the government right now and not an announcement of not paying salaries. Finally, one of the union leaders who spoke to me said "the information passed by the Chief Medical Director of the institution wil negatively affect the productivity of the workers which will in turn affect the quality of care being rendered to the patients. He further said that if the issue is not rectified as soon as possible, it might force the health workers to go on strike which will have a ripple effect on the patients and the state at large. Health workers shouldn't be ill-treate in a time like this. Written and reported by Olabanji Joel A Nurse, A Writer and A Socialist. Edited by Anonymous.