Investigative team meets health-care workers across country

An investigative team comprising representatives from the Guyana Government and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) have visited public health facilities and met with health-care workers across the country.

Over the past week, nurses and other health-care workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic have been protesting, calling for increased risk allowances among other benefits. But the GPSU has since called off its planned strike action and is now working with Government to address the concerns of the health-care workers. Last week, the Union said it would give Government two weeks to do this.
In a statement on Wednesday, the GPSU said that the team visited health-care facilities within Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) and the Georgetown Public Hospital.
During these visits, the team met with all categories of frontline health-care workers and the management representatives at each facility. A number of issues was raised by the health-care workers ranging from inadequate provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to non-payment of risk allowances for working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Of significance at each of the locations, there was general support from the health workers that all categories of health workers must be classified as frontline workers and also must be paid a risk allowance, since the nature of the work within the health-care facilities required that all categories of health-care workers come into contact with a COVID-19-infected person, knowingly or unknowingly, while performing their legitimate duties. That is, attendants will be the first line of contact in the chain of events leading up to the persons’ eventual testing and subsequent admission to the COVID-19 Unit, where the doctors, nurses and other ancillary staff will continue to provide further supportive care,” the Union posited.
Nevertheless, the GPSU said it was pleased with the team’s interface with the health-care workers thus far, noting that the positive outcomes and views solicited during this exercise were very enlightening and encouraging.
Moreover, the Union is anticipating “an urgent and positive response from the Government as it relates to the payment of the risk allowances to these hardworking health-care workers. The GPSU also regards all other work-related issues as equally important and commits to the pursuit of a favourable resolution to these issues in a timely manner.”
Only last week, President Irfaan Ali had assured nurses and other health-care workers that there would be major improvements to their livelihood under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.
“I want to assure the nurses that within our five-year term, they will see a monumental improvement not only in their salaries and benefits but in their overall livelihood and in their overall quality of life. We’re here just over 65 days and we have a five-year agenda,” the Head of State declared during an interview last Wednesday with local Journalist Gordon Moseley.
According to President Ali, the issue has to be looked at in a holistic manner in relation to the current state of the country’s economy. He noted that frontline workers were not only benefiting from the $150 million that was set aside in the 2020 Emergency Budget but other measures aimed at relieving the burden of every Guyanese such as the $25,000 cash grant and the removal of VAT on electricity and water.
Nevertheless, the Head of State explained that there were some specific commitments that the PPP/C made in its manifesto regarding nurses and health-care workers, along with all other categories of workers, and will work to ensure these were fulfilled during its tenure.
In fact, he noted that the issue of wages and salaries is currently being considered in preparations for Budget 2021.
“Whilst we know [the nurses] are operating in the COVID environment – just like every other frontline worker and there is greater risk, and we appreciate that, we have to work within the confines of the economy. I want to assure the nurses that this Government is committed towards ensuring our promises and commitment to them over the five-year period are realised. I can assure them that their lives and their families’ lives are gonna improve tremendously,” President Ali promised.