Dozens of workers at ELWA Hospital have staged a peaceful protest, demanding better pay, improved working conditions, and greater accountability from SIM Liberia and SIM International, the organizations that manage the hospital.
The workers, including nurses, physician assistants, lab technicians, cleaners, and support staff, say they are tired of low wages, delayed payments, and poor treatment despite the hospital’s high service fees.
According to the protesters, the action follows years of unaddressed grievances, including unpaid benefits dating back to 2016, underpayment of salaries, and the hospital’s refusal to sign a long-pending collective bargaining agreement. Health workers also accuse management of failing to remit NASSCORP fees deducted from their salaries and of mismanaging donor resources intended to improve hospital services.
One nurse at the protest summed up their frustration: “The hospital charges plenty, but they refuse to pay us.”
Workers say ELWA, one of Liberia’s oldest and busiest hospitals, remains among the lowest-paying in the country. Some professional nurses reportedly earn less than L$30,000 (around USD 150) per month, a salary they describe as “disrespectful” and “unlivable,” given the high cost of living and the hospital’s heavy patient load.
Beyond low pay, the staff are demanding safer and more humane working conditions. Many employees travel to work on commercial motorcycles and overcrowded taxis, exposing themselves to daily risks. A recent accident involving a nurse identified as Babra, who sustained severe leg fractures, underscored the dangers of commuting without institutional transport. The workers are now urging SIM to provide buses for staff to ensure safer mobility.
The employees have also raised red flags over the alleged diversion of USD 75,000 donated by a U.S.-based philanthropic group for the purchase of an ambulance. According to them, the funds were received over a year ago but have not been used for their intended purpose, leaving the hospital without an operational ambulance.
Founded in 1965 by Serving in Mission (SIM), ELWA Hospital employs over 300 workers and serves thousands of patients monthly. However, staff say the facility is a shadow of its former self, operating with limited resources, low morale, and declining standards.
The protesting workers are calling on President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to intervene, noting that the hospital’s legacy is one Liberians associate with his name due to his personal connection to the facility. They also appealed to Samaritan’s Purse, one of ELWA’s key rebuilding partners, to ensure that the hospital fulfills its original purpose of serving the Liberian people with dignity and transparency.
For the workers, the message is clear: their patience has run out. They say the hospital may still carry its respected name, but inside, things have fallen apart, and it is time for fairness, reform, and accountability.
