Suakoko, Bong County – The most recent round of demonstrations at Phebe Hospital in Bong County appears to have been temporarily put on hold after the direct intervention of Health Minister Louise Kpoto.
Irate health workers chose to end their protest and return to their regular duties after days of uncertainty marked by a go-slow action and rising staff animosity. This was described by many as an expression of respect for the Minister and confidence in her ability to investigate their concerns.
The suspension of seven health professionals by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the ongoing decision over the transfer of three senior managers are two major concerns that have not been resolved despite the apparent peace on the hospital premises.
In a direct conversation with the angry staff on Tuesday, Minister Kpoto recognized that the twelve-count resolution had valid concerns that warranted attention.
The minister promised employees that the Ministry of Health would make a decision within a week about one of the main demands, which is for the removal of the hospital’s administrator, medical director, and human resource manager.
Speaking in a tough but controlled tone, the Minister asked personnel to maintain calmness and let due procedure play out, clarifying that the Ministry of Health does not fire people but only transfers them.
The hospital’s regular operations were impeded by protest actions earlier, but her statement seemed to defuse tensions among the staffs.
While the Minister was still communicating with the medical personnel in Bong County, a statement made in Monrovia created more controversy.
At the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism’s press briefing on Tuesday, Deputy Minister Daniel O. Sando revealed that the Civil Service Agency had suspended seven Phebe Hospital employees for a month without pay while an inquiry was conducted.
As employees resume their responsibilities and patients continue to receive care, the hospital has temporarily returned to a state of relative peace.
The fate of the seven suspended employees and the Ministry of Health’s impending decision about the requested transfers, however, are likely to influence the next phase of the events at Phebe Hospital, thus the subject is far from resolved on the surface.
