Despite recent government intervention that provided health insurance coverage for hundreds of employees and a new ambulance to ELWA Hospital, the facility continues to face major operational challenges, including the closure of its female ward due to an acute shortage of doctors.
The alarming disclosure was made Thursday by the Liberia Industrial Worker Union (LIWU) Local #17 at ELWA Hospital during a press conference in Paynesville, where union leaders praised the Government of Liberia for fulfilling commitments made following a workers’ strike in October 2025.
According to the union, the female ward remains shut down because the hospital lacks sufficient medical doctors to adequately staff and operate the department. The situation, they said, is limiting the hospital’s ability to admit more patients and provide essential healthcare services to the public.
“The Liberia Medical and Dental Council and the Ministry of Health should add additional medical doctors to help buttress the current workforce at the hospital,” the union stated, noting that reopening the female ward would significantly improve patient care and increase the hospital’s capacity.
The revelation highlights the continuing strain on one of Liberia’s major healthcare facilities despite government efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery.
During the press conference, the union acknowledged the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the Ministry of Health, and other government stakeholders for enrolling 304 ELWA Hospital employees into a government-supported program and providing a brand-new ambulance to the institution.
The support stems from commitments made after hospital workers staged a strike on October 6, 2025, protesting low wages, unpaid benefits, lack of transportation, and other labor concerns.
However, while applauding the government, the union sharply criticized the management of Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) Liberia over what it described as the institution’s failure to settle retroactive benefits owed to employees.
Union leaders disclosed that workers are owed approximately US$1.4 million in accumulated retroactive payments. They rejected a proposal by SIM Liberia to spread payments over eight years, arguing that such an arrangement would leave some employees receiving as little as US$50 every six months.
The workers described the proposal as unfair and insensitive, accusing the institution of denying employees the full benefits of their labor.
“The delay in payment undermines staff morale, affects productivity, and raises serious concerns about SIM Liberia’s commitment to the welfare and rights of its workforce,” the union declared.
LIWU is now calling on both the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health to urgently intervene and facilitate a resolution to the longstanding dispute.
