As patients in government facilities finally get a lease of life following the resumption of work by doctors, nurses in public hospitals have threatened to lay down their tools starting December 5th should government not respond to their demands.
The demands follow a consultative meeting by the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union today at Mulago hospital where a consensus was reached that the least paid cadre in the nursing profession be given at least Shs 2.5 million per month.
According to Paul Bukenya, the general secretary of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, it is unfortunate that such a move had to be taken.
“Nurses have been supportive mostly during the Uganda Medical Association strike. We are disappointed that up to this day government has not come up to say anything about the welfare of nurses," Bukenya said.
Bukenya said the appalling work conditions under which nurses work have seen many opt to steal government drugs to earn a living.
He said: “We have nurses pursuing degrees but even when they return, they are not recruited within the public service. They keep serving as ordinary nurses. This has contributed greatly to the brain drain among the nurses."
An enrolled nurse in Uganda with a certificate earns Shs 470,000 per month after two and half years in school; an enrolled nurse who is a diploma holder earns Shs 740,000; a senior nursing officer who is double trained earns Shs 950,000 and a principal nursing officer earns Shs 1.3 million.
A senior principal officer assistant commissioner earns between Shs 1.3 million to 1.8 million per month.
