The leadership of the Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association has announced plans to stage a three-day picketing at the Ministry of Health from October 23 to 25, 2024, if the ministry does not fulfill their promise to post graduates by the end of this week.
The association expressed profound disappointment and frustration over the prolonged unemployment situation affecting their members. Despite their qualifications and dedication to the healthcare sector, the 2020 cohort of graduate nurses and midwives has yet to receive postings.
On August 6, 2024, the Ministry of Health opened a recruitment portal, allowing graduates to apply for positions they have been eagerly anticipating.
However, after the application window closed on August 23, two months have passed without any updates or communication regarding the status of their applications.
Leadership has made several follow-ups with the ministry since the portal closed, but all promised timelines have come and gone without results.
This ongoing uncertainty has exacerbated anxiety and frustration among members, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet in the absence of employment.
‘’We call on the Ministry of Health to immediately deploy our members to their respective facilities so they can utilize the skills and knowledge they have worked hard to acquire.
It is imperative that our concerns be addressed, and that we receive clear communication regarding our applications and the next steps’’.
‘’Should our concerns remain unaddressed, we will be compelled to hold a three-day picketing at the Ministry of Health from October 23rd to 25th.
This action is necessary to bring attention to our plight and demand accountability from the Ministry of health’’.
We urge the government to recognize the valuable contributions that the Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives can make to the healthcare system, especially during these challenging times.
