91 Nimba Nurse Anesthetists Demand Salary Hike, Threaten Surgery Shutdown

Ganta, Nimba County: Around 91 nurse anesthetists across Liberia are set to begin an indefinite “go-slow” strike starting Thursday, January 15, 2026, demanding a significant salary increase amid ongoing economic hardships.

Mehnpaine Saye Dolo, President of the Nurse Anesthetists Association of Liberia, told FrontPage Africa that the strike will be a full work stoppage, not a partial slowdown, and will continue until the government addresses their grievances.

“These professionals are essential to every major surgery in the country, yet they are treated as an afterthought,” Dolo said. Nurse anesthetists, who administer anesthesia, monitor vital signs during operations, and manage post-surgical recovery, currently earn a base salary of just US$600 per month. After taxes, loan repayments, and other deductions, many take home roughly US$400.

Dolo highlighted the disconnect between responsibility and pay: “We handle life-or-death procedures at facilities including Jackson F. Doe Memorial Hospital, Phebe Hospital, Redemption Hospital, and G. W. Harley Hospital. Yet our salaries barely cover food, rent, and school fees for our children amid rising inflation.”

The association is demanding a salary increase to at least US$1,000 per month, bringing pay closer to West African regional standards and reflecting the extensive training and certification required for the role.

Liberia’s healthcare workforce has long struggled with low wages. A 2024 Ministry of Health report noted that frontline staff like nurse anesthetists earn 40–50% less than counterparts in Ghana or Sierra Leone, contributing to shortages and a brain drain. With only 91 nurse anesthetists serving all 15 counties, the strike threatens to paralyze surgical services nationwide.

These professionals are critical to operating theaters, ensuring safe anesthesia, preparing patients for surgery, and responding to emergencies. Without them, elective procedures including C-sections, trauma surgeries, and routine operations cannot proceed. Hospitals from Monrovia to rural counties like Nimba and Lofa may suspend all non-emergency surgeries starting January 15, potentially leading to delays, increased patient suffering, and preventable deaths echoing the disruptions caused by the 2023 physicians’ strike.

The Ministry of Health has yet to respond publicly, though sources indicate emergency meetings are underway. Patients scheduled for surgery now face uncertainty, highlighting the fragility of Liberia’s healthcare system as it continues to recover from the 2014–2016 Ebola crisis and recent economic pressures.