Nurse anesthetists across Liberia have begun a nationwide strike, demanding government action to address what they describe as persistent salary disparities and inadequate working conditions within the country’s health sector.
The Association of Nurse Anesthetists Liberia (ANAL) said the industrial action follows years of unresolved concerns, accusing the Ministry of Health of minimizing their grievances.
According to the association, the action escalated into a nationwide slowdown beginning on January 15 after repeated appeals failed to yield meaningful engagement.
In a statement, ANAL said its members are paid salaries that do not correspond with their level of professional training or the critical responsibilities they carry in hospitals and clinics nationwide.
The group noted that nurse anesthetists undergo extensive specialized training, yet their compensation remains misaligned with both their expertise and the occupational risks involved.
Nurse anesthetists are essential to the delivery of surgical and emergency medical care, often working in high-risk environments where mistakes can have fatal consequences.
The association argued that these realities are not adequately reflected in the current public-sector pay structure, contributing to low morale and growing dissatisfaction among practitioners.
ANAL is calling for a comprehensive review and restructuring of salaries and benefits, with compensation linked to professional qualifications, clinical responsibilities, and workplace risk.
The association said such reforms are necessary not only to improve staff welfare but also to safeguard patient outcomes and strengthen the overall health system.
According to the group, they have appealed to the National Legislature to intervene. The call was made during a mass gathering of nurse anesthetists held on Thursday at Liberia’s Capitol Building in Monrovia.
