Health Officers from seven clinics in Lae District went on strike today over an administrative issue with the Morobe Provincial Government.
Morobe Nurses Association President, Ian Payau, said nurses in the province were not paid their industrial allowances for 2016 and 2018.
Morobe’s Deputy Provincial Administrator, Robin Bazzinuc, told the health officers this morning that the management would consult on the matter, and provide a solution.
All seven clinics in Lae are now closed indefinitely until the issue is sorted out.
Morobe Nurses’ Association President, Ian Payau, said the nurses were not paid their industrial award for 2016 and 2018, apart from the other provinces who had received theirs.
He said the concern was raised to the Morobe Provincial Administration on November last year, but they did not receive a clarification from the management till today.
All seven urban clinics in the district are now closed indefinitely, until the Morobe Provincial Administration addresses the nurses’ concerns.
There are only 35 health officers working at the seven urban clinics in the district which attend to more than 200,000 people of Lae District.
They work overtime, and are the first to attend to sick people before the patients are being referred to Hospitals for further treatment.
This nurse was put off from her allowance by the Provincial Government this year.
She said she performs the same duty as nurses from the hospitals, and requires an explanation from the Administration on why she was not paid her allowances.
Morobe’s Deputy Provincial Administrator, Robbin Bazzinuc who was on location to address the concern, told the nurses this morning that the administration would provide a solution to their concern today.
