Voinjama, Lofa County – More than 400 healthcare workers from across Lofa County staged an indefinite go-slow on Monday, protesting the appointment of Dr. Raphael Ombeni Shamavu as County Health Officer (CHO) by Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto.
By Yawah Y. Jaivey The aggrieved healthcare workers, including nurses, registrars, dispensers, laboratory technicians, and cleaners, shut down 51 clinics and five health centers across Lofa County. The county’s four major hospitals remained open with skeleton staff to handle emergency cases.
The healthcare workers, represented by their spokesman Dorfelson Jayguhwaiyan, stated that the go-slow was in response to Health Minister Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto’s refusal to revoke Dr. Raphael Ombeni Shamavu’s appointment, which they have vehemently resisted and challenged.
Mr. Jayguhwaiyan explained that the workers are rejecting Dr. Shamavu’s appointment due to his alleged poor leadership at Kolahun Hospital, where he previously served as Medical Director.
“We’re vehemently resisting the appointment of Dr. Raphael due to his bad leadership. Dr.
Shamavu is autocratic, toxic, and narcissistic,” Jayguhwaiyan said. “He did a lot of things at Kolahun Hospital that negatively affected the welfare of healthcare workers. Bringing such a man to head the Lofa County Health System is against the interests of healthcare workers in the county.
” Mr. Jayguhwaiyan told FrontPage Africa that in early May 2024, healthca.