Plateau Nurses Threatened To Strike For Collecting N1,000 Each As Monthly Hazard Allowance

Nurses and midwives, under the auspices of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Plateau State chapter, recently threatened to go on strike. Their threat, notwithstanding the continued spread of coronavirus in Nigeria, is over alleged non-provision of Personal Protective Equipment for the health workers. Chairperson of the council in the state, Briskila Dabit, tells JAMES ABRAHAM about the planned strike and other issues affecting the healthcare sector in the state.. When asked during an interview .

How much do nurses and midwives get as hazard allowance?
This is one thing we have been complaining about because the situation there has to change. Do you know that hazard allowance for each of our nurses in the state is just N1,000 monthly? Can you imagine that with all the hazards they go through in the course of doing their job? That is how bad the situation is. With all the Lassa fever, Ebola and now coronavirus, you are paying the nurses who are at the front line just N1,000. Isn’t that too small? That is why we are begging the government to do something about it and increase the amount to something reasonable.

How much increase do you want as hazard allowance?
We know that you cannot give what you don’t have but government can start somewhere by increasing it to at least N5,000 monthly. They can improve on that subsequently as things improve.

What are the other challenges you face on the job?
Most of the challenges we are facing today in the hospitals revolve round poor equipment. We need working tools. Government should do something about it because if you go to most of our
our hospitals, you will find most of them lacking in equipment or with broken down equipment. I work in the theatre and I know how bad it is to have a bad instrument in the theatre while you are trying to operate on somebody. Please, we are pleading with the government to do more for us. Another major problem is the issue of employment. They should employ more hands and equip the hospitals.

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Posted: at 12-04-2020 08:31 PM (4 years ago) | Hero

Is there a governor in that state??? How can he not provide his medical staff with the necessary PPE??

Posted: at 13-04-2020 08:27 AM (4 years ago) | Hero