-Due to “Unfair Treatment”
BY: Shallon S. Gonlor |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — The Liberia Association of Nurse Anesthetists will suspend all surgical services nationwide, beginning Thursday, January 15, 2026. The association’s Nimba County Coordinator, Saye Cyrus Kehdon, announced this in a press statement on Wednesday, January 14.
“Comes January 15, 2026, we will be taking a decisive stand that may alter surgical services nationally. Anesthesia services by our members will be suspended, aiming to draw Liberians’ attention to our suffering,” they noted. The group of health professionals is demanding change and accountability from the government, as they cite prolonged neglect and unfair treatment
Delivering the release in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, Kehdon highlighted the dire situation facing Liberia’s nurse anesthetists and anaesthetists. “Our profession is built on dedication and responsibility, with years of rigorous training. Yet, despite changes in political leadership, we continue to experience undercompensation,” he said
Kehdon added: “The treatment we receive often remains hidden from the patients whose lives We safeguard. We don’t wish to serve with grieving hearts.” According to him, Liberia has 118 licensed anesthesia providers (excluding physicians), but many have left the country, resigned, or died in service due to poor compensation. “Our association’s database accounts for 91 members presently,” he noted. Saye Cyrus Kehdon believes that nurse anesthetists are the backbone of Liberia’s surgical services, unfortunately, they have faced major struggles.
While acknowledging physicians’ contributions, Kehdon stressed that 99% of successful surgeries rely on nurse anesthetist expertise. “Approximately 98% of these professionals are nurses, who spend 5-9 years in training,” he said. Kehdon highlighted the intimate involvement of nurse anesthetists in patient care. “We are the ones who engage with you the night before elective surgeries, hours before emergency surgeries, asking key questions about your health status.”
LANA Nimba County Coordinator Saye Cyrus Kehdon emphasized, “We take full responsibility for patients’ lives, establishing IV access for critically ill patients and contributing to maternal and newborn mortality reduction.”
The Liberia Association of Nurse Anesthetists submitted a petition on December 13, 2025, seeking recognition and redress but received no response from the government. Their frustrations grow as the government has reportedly refused to implement policies, worsening their sufferings.
Now, they are urging civil society and stakeholders to join their cause, appealing to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration to address salary discrepancies, fair compensation, and rightful benefit entitlement. “We want a healthcare environment valuing its providers and patients.”
