Nurses and frontline health workers in the Western Province have raised serious concerns over the unequal distribution of COVID-19 allowances, claiming that some staff are yet to receive their payments years after the pandemic response.
Reports reaching the Solomon Star revealed that a number of nurses and health officers who served during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in Western Province have still not been paid their allowances, while others have reportedly received theirs through direct arrangements with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).
According to sources, some workers in Gizo have allegedly applied directly to the national Ministry instead of through the Western Provincial Health and Medical Services (WPHMS), and were subsequently paid; raising questions about fairness and transparency in the process.
“The payment process is not equal. Some were paid through direct application to Honiara, while others are still waiting without any clear update,” one concerned nurse told Solomon Star in an interview this week.
“We worked tirelessly during the pandemic, risking our lives, and we deserve to be treated fairly,” the nurse said.
It was also revealed that a list of pending applications is currently being compiled for submission, but many health workers across rural communities in the province remain unaware of the process or whether they are included.
Nurses are now calling on the Western Provincial Health and Medical Services (WPHMS) to step up and address the issue urgently, ensuring that all eligible frontline workers receive their rightful allowances.
“The COVID-19 allowance for Western Province is now ongoing, but the system must be transparent,” another health worker said. “Authorities need to fast-track the payments and make sure no one is left behind.”
The unpaid nurses emphasized that their service during the pandemic was driven by duty to protect the people of Western Province, but they are now demanding fairness and accountability from the responsible authorities to resolve the issue once and for all.
Western Province Health workers that yet to receive their COVID-19 includes all the Direct Employee, Registered Nurses, Nurses Aid and other Health workers in from Marovo to Shortland Islands.
It is estimated at around $6 million is the outstanding COVID-19 allowance, according to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
