MIDDELBURG NEWS - Enrolled nurses protested in front of Wilhelm Stahl Hospital in Middelburg last Wednesday and Thursday.

The enrolled nurses and nursing assistants have been demanding rural allowances for years.

"Our demands are not met by the Government, we need 8 to 12% for rural allowance," said one of the nurses. Rural allowances are implemented to attract and retain health professionals full-time to the rural areas, where the population density is very low. Registered nurses and doctors receive rural allowances and in the entire Eastern Cape area there are only 28 enrolled nurses and enrolled nursing assistants receiving this allowance.

According to the protestors, the demands have been given to the head of the Department of Health in East Londen, dr Rolene Wagner in April but nothing has been done.

The only statement given by CEO of Wilhelm Stahl Hospital, Mrs JC Rautenbach, was that management concluded it was an unprotected strike, and no further comments will be given regarding the demands from the protestors.

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