LIBERIA: Boakai’s “No Business as Usual” Under Fire …Medical Students Protest Unpaid Stipends As Health Workers’ Strike Paralyzes Nation

23

Health workers and medical students in Liberia have embarked on a nationwide strike and protests to voice their frustration over unpaid stipends, salary disparities, and the government’s perceived inaction.

The growing discontent raises questions about President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s “No Business as Usual” Agenda, as critical health services across the country come to a halt.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, health workers at Tellewoyan Hospital in Voinjama, Lofa County, kickstarted the strike, citing the government’s failure to address salary disparities, unemployment, and other pressing concerns within the health sector.

Tellewoyan Hospital is a major medical facility that caters to residents from neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Simultaneously, in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, nurses at the Liberia Government Hospital began a go-slow protest to demand payment of their salaries and benefits.

The protests are part of a coordinated action by health workers nationwide, organized by the Assembly of Liberian Health Professionals (ALHP), an umbrella group representing various medical professionals.

Adding to the crisis, hundreds of medical students took to the streets to protest outside the residence of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in Monrovia.

The students, representing the A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine and Pharmacy, decried the government’s failure to pay their US$200 monthly stipends for the past five months.

According to verifiable documents, stipends for 440 students have been overdue since August 2024.

Chanting slogans and holding placards, the protesting students called on the Boakai’s Administration to fulfill its financial obligations.

“We are future doctors, but how do we survive if we are not paid?” one student asked. “We cannot focus on our studies with empty stomachs.”

The protest by medical students underscores a broader crisis within Liberia’s health sector.

Health workers, including doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, are also demanding an urgent reclassification of salaries.

Despite multiple engagements with the government, the implementation of health sector pay grades and classification policies remains stalled.

The Assembly of Liberian Health Professionals had earlier issued a 10-day ultimatum to the government, demanding immediate action on salary disparities and other critical concerns.

Failure to meet these demands has now triggered this nationwide protest, signaling a significant breakdown in labor relations between health professionals and the government.

The President of the Liberia National Physician Assistant Association, Theophilus Fayiah, acknowledged the government’s role in providing essential medical services but expressed disappointment over its inability to address the issues.

“It is disheartening that some workers in the health sector are paid less than half of what their colleagues earn. The government must act now to ensure fairness,” he said.

Mr. Fayiah further criticized the administration’s sluggish approach, which, he argued, undermines the morale of health workers and disrupts service delivery.

“The health sector is the backbone of this nation. If we are neglected, it is the ordinary Liberians who will suffer the most,” he added.

The situation has sparked widespread debate about the “No Business as Usual” mantra adopted by the Boakai-Koung Administration.

Critics argue that the government’s failure to resolve these longstanding issues contradicts its promise of reform and accountability.

As the protests continue, hospitals and clinics across Liberia face operational challenges, leaving patients without essential care.

“We are turning patients away because there are no nurses. If the government does not act, this could become a full-blown health crisis.”

Observers warn that the government’s inability to address these grievances could exacerbate Liberia’s fragile health system, which has already faced significant challenges in recent years.

The strike and protests come at a time when access to quality healthcare remains a critical concern for many Liberians, especially in rural areas.

Public reactions have been mixed, with some citizens supporting the health workers and students, while others have called for dialogue to prevent further disruptions.

“I understand their plight, but we need solutions quickly. People are dying because of this strike,” said one resident in Bomi County.

In response to the escalating crisis, government officials are yet to issue a formal statement addressing the protests and the nationwide strike.

With pressure mounting, Liberians suggest that the Boakai administration must take swift action to restore calm, resolve the grievances, and avoid further disruptions in the health sector.

As Liberia faces growing challenges, the health workers’ strike and the medical students’ protest serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic reforms.

Whether the government will act decisively remains to be seen, but for now, the “No Business as Usual” slogan appears to ring hollow for many in the country.

Comments are closed.