Doctors and bureaucrats may run the healthcare system but nurses are the ones that make it work - and they say the amalgamation: nah goh work. Last month, the Nurses Association of Belize categorically stated that it completely opposes to the amalgamation and today the Nurses Association reasserted its position of 'no to amalgamation' One thing that is changing however is that the nurses' resolve to resist, is hardening. Today President of the Association Isabel Bennett told us that the organization is now looking at step two in its quest to have the nurses' position heard and heeded.
Isabel Bennett, President - Nurses Association
"The membership is getting a clear indication that the Ministry of Health's task force has a mandate to review the services from institutions. On that task force we have our representative Miss Laura Longsworth. We negotiated and she is now a part of that task force. However the meetings are not being held as we think it should in order to get the proper information and documentation and evaluation of these two institutions. And so in light of that, we are being like the hawk. We are monitoring the whole situation so that we can continuously give feedback and recommendation to the government.
In light of a worse case scenario, if there is really an amalgamation, or a merger that would happen, the associations is being very assertive in documenting the needs of the nurses. We are speaking definitely of a salary increase; we are definitely speaking to the possibility of flexible working hours; the nurses are definite in asking for time to be able to do advanced training and so that is being compiled and as time sees fit, it will be presented to the Ministry of Health, to the government of Belize."
Alfonso Noble,
Are you at all in consultation with the unions so that when and if does come out that government is still going ahead with its move unflinching, meaning that they don't take heed to your demands, to go a step further with unions or with the assistance of the unions?
Isabel Bennett,
"That would be a definite yes based on what the membership is saying. We would see that, or our view on that is definitely one of paralysis to the health system of country. To completely ignore or not to include the recommendations from the professionals, and in this situation nurses because we are the backbone of the health system, and at this point in time the membership of the association is being very adamant about what is being presented, what we are presenting to the government of Belize."
Bennett says that the nurses are in consultation with the Caribbean Nurses Association as well as the International Council of Nurses. She says that the association is seeking a closer dialogue with nurses at Universal who are represented by the NAB.
