At least 48 nurses have staged a sit-down strike over unpaid coronavirus allowances which they said is accumulation of a three-month benefits they have been pushing the government to settle.

During the height of the coronavirus first wave The Gambia announce a generous support package including allowances for doctors and nurses. 

But a row erupted over paying of the allowances for frontline health workers which prompted the Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Samateh hinting that there was corruption at his ministry. 

Antouman Jagne, chairman of the COVID-19 nurses Select Committe, said: “We believe in dialogue. But this is the only option we have. We never thought of resorting to any sort of violence. 

“That’s why when this whole thing started from August, when we were employed, we were having the belief as we were informed, that they would be giving our salaries as soon as possible.”

“We, frontline workers, are the most important people when it comes to the COVID-19 team, as people directly dealing with confirmed cases, both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. We stabilize them and then release them. Looking at all those things, we felt the need that we are entitled to an allowance,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba