The National Association of Nurses and Midwives has slammed the Gambia government over its “misleading and false”press statement. 

The association spokesman Sanna Biro Darboe said: “I want to make it very clear that the statement that we saw from the government of the Gambia spokesman was a very misleading statement. 

“I can confirm to you that as of yesterday to today there is no amount of payment made to the nurses and midwives in this country and this doesn’t happen.”

“Of course, there has been a lot of effort made since yesterday and I witnessed that from the side of the Ministry [of Health] that they were trying to consult nurses and the hospital’s administrations to send them the list [of nurses and midwives] to contact nurses to send in their payroll numbers. 

“But apart from that there is no other payment that has been made. if the government of the Gambia is saying that the ministry has made the payment,” he added.

“Our position like I always said still remained the same that we are given the government and the ministry of health uphill today midnight [Tuesday] to pay our allowances [and] if nothing is done, if our nurses don’t confirm to us that they have received their allowances they will be the same nurses to confirm to us to share press release to make sure tomorrow [Today] action is taken,” he continued.

Gambia government spokesman Ebrima Sankareh had earlier said: “Contrary to erroneous news being widely circulated, the Ministry of Health wishes to inform citizens that it has been working tirelessly to provide allowances for its hardworking nurses nationwide. 

“The allowance payment to the nurses is part of the initiatives of the Ministry of Health. These allowances are currently being processed to be sent to their individual accounts. 

“Therefore, the Ministry urges the general body of nurses to go ahead with their normal duties of providing healthcare services to the people of this country. The allowance issue has been resolved. We wish to inform the public to be calm and that The Health Minister will convene a press conference tomorrow, Tuesday the 31st August, 2021 at 14:30 GMT to furnish the public with.”

But the association has issued a midnight ultimatum for the government through the Ministry of Health to settle their allowances or else they will start an indefinite countrywide strike.

The head of civil service in May ordered the ministry of health to pay allowances demanded to nurses and midwives in the country.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba