Medical staff at the ELWA Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia are staging a peaceful protest today, October 6, 2025, to express their deep concerns over the poor working conditions and lack of essential resources to effectively provide quality healthcare services to patients.
The protest, which began at the early hours of Monday, saw hundreds of medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, carrying placards and chanting slogans outside the hospital’s main entrance. The protesters, who wore red armbands, demanded immediate action from the government and hospital administration to address their grievances.
most especially the issue of the salary. Health practitioners at the facility are saying, it is so disheartening that Salary given to nurses is “ten thousand Liberian dollars”$10,000LD” while a patient’s bill is ” one hundred thousand Liberian dollars” $100,000LD and above.
According to some medical staffs who are part of the protest, said the protest was a result of the hospital’s deplorable state, including inadequate equipment, shortage of staff, and poor infrastructure. “We are here today to draw the attention of the authorities to the dire situation at ELWA Hospital. Our patients are suffering, and we are suffering alongside them. We cannot continue to provide substandard care,” said a nurse who decided to be ananymous.
The protesters cites a range of issues, including the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, inadequate staff training, and insufficient medical supplies. They also expressed concerns over the hospital’s dilapidated infrastructure, including broken equipment, leaking roofs, and inadequate patient facilities.”We are risking our lives every day to care for our patients, but we need a safe and enabling environment to do our job effectively,” said another nurse, a representative of the hospital’s nursing staff. “The hospital’s conditions are unacceptable, and we demand immediate attention to these issues.”The medical staff are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the hospital’s management and operations, including the appointment of a new hospital administrator and the provision of essential resources.The protest has caused concern among patients and their families, who are urging the authorities to resolve the situation quickly. “We understand the concerns of the medical staff, and we appeal to them to return to work while negotiations are ongoing,” said a patient at the hospital. “We need our healthcare system to function effectively, and we hope that a resolution can be reached soon.”
The Liberian government has promised to investigate the situation and address the concerns of the medical staff. The Ministry of Health is yet to issue a statement expressing its commitment to improving the healthcare system and ensuring that healthcare workers have a safe and enabling environment to work. As the situation continues to unfold, patients and healthcare workers alike are calling for a swift resolution to the crisis.
The ELWA Hospital protest highlights the urgent need for investment in Liberia’s healthcare system and the importance of prioritizing the well-being of healthcare workers and patients alike.
