Sierra Leone News: Nurses resume work at George Brook Health Centre

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With regards to the peaceful protest by nurses at the George Brook Health Centre, at Dworzark Community on Wednesday, the nurses have now resumed duty to the public. Although all their demands are yet to be fulfilled, nurses at the George Brook Health facility informed this medium, that even before the outbreak of EBOLA, they had been exposed to high risk of contracting disease because they lack proper protective materials, which will enhance their work in the out- patient unit, laboratory, and labour theatre. Speaking on anonymity, a senior nurse of long experience disclosed that though the facility is a centre, it provides service to thousands living in constituency 098, especially those residing on hill tops. In this regard she said they have to work overtime on antenatal days when the centre attend to a huge number of pregnant and lactating women, and they don’t receive no extra allowance for their service, but they continue to do it, because of humanity. The senior nurse made it clear that it was not because nurses at Connaught Hospital protested prompted their action. The reason was that they had made several appeal to the authorities at the Health Ministry to provide them with the appropriate working materials, like gloves and disposable aprons which they should use at all times, when on duty, but this was lacking she said. However the senior nurse on behalf of her colleagues confirmed that they have resume work, but their demands are yet to be addressed, especially the availability of adequate personal protective materials (PPE’s) and their allowances. On the issue of other services to patients, Awoko spoke to some of the patients. Kadiatu Kamara who resides at Sorie Town told Awoko that she has been attending antenatal care for the past two weeks at the centre, but did not receive care from the care-givers who were on a sit down protest. A lactating mother, Joya Davies, also explained that despite the fact that she did not receive care during the past week, she was happy that she received care yesterday when she went to the centre. A husband, Amara Bangura who accompanied his wife to the centre, informed this reporter that his wife received attention, but was asked to get her prescribed medication from a recognised pharmacy. He said because of the present EBOLA crisis, the stock of free health care drugs is now in short supply. By Ade Campbell Friday September 05, 2014

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