Anambra State nurses under the auspices of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) have demonstrated against their subpar working conditions in the state’s government-owned healthcare facilities.
The nurses organised the demonstration as part of an interactive forum at Nurses House, their residential quarters in Okpuno, the state capital, to connect with their state leadership, whom they tasked with communicating their message to the state administration.
The inadequate execution of their CONHESS salary structure was one of the many grievances raised by the nurses, who claimed that their compensation was still the lowest of all the neighbouring states.
The nurses took turns complaining about the difficulties they have in performing their jobs as they addressed Mrs. Edith Onwuka, the state chairwoman of NANNM.
They said: “We have never been paid more than 60 percent of our salary, even with the current minimum wage increment.
“Some of us work in hospitals with over 80 patients in a ward originally meant for 20 beds, making it extremely difficult for health workers to operate in such an environment.
“To date, our hazard allowance still remains N3,000, as against the N30,000 statutory amount that is supposed to be paid,” they lamented.
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The group appealed to the state government, through the Commissioner for Health, to heed their cry for help and intervene, as their dire working conditions continue to worsen daily.
The state chairperson of NANNM, Mrs Onwuka, who listened to the nurses, assured them that the leadership would reach out to the state government to resolve all pending issues.
She pleaded for patience among the members of the group, stating that a meeting had been scheduled with the relevant authorities, expressing hope that their concerns would be addressed.
