SHP health staff still awaiting payment

The 370 Southern Highlands health staff who have missed out four consecutive pay periods are querying how and why this has happened.
Their calls are mainly targeted to the Finance and Health departments who are facilitating the payments.
These payments are from a special Government funding allocation of K11.5 million committed in September for the Southern Highlands colonial health staff.
The staff have submitted their claims to the Government to recognise and compensate them for their hardships faced during the colonial administration bringing the much needed healthcare services delivered in the rural communities.
They finally got their answer after waiting for more than 10 years.
Very few of them are still working, some of them have been retrenched while others have died.
This group of staff worked for free those days and only received monthly food rations.
Soon after, they were paid AU$1 (about K2.60) each per month with food rations until they were put on the Government payroll.
However, over the years, some died while others remained, serving the people under some very harsh weather conditions, walking many kilometres, climbing many valleys, rivers and mountains delivering healthcare services. However, today, there is a more relaxed and comfortable working zone with good vehicles, salaries and allowances, unlike that of the past who did not received such treatments so respect must be given where its due.
The issue now is, why is only half of the staff being paid and why is there a delay for the rest who have not been paid?
This is totally unfair.
First lot were paid on pay 20 while the remaining retrenched staff and families of the deceased were assured to be paid the following pay period.
This never eventuated till now, pay number 23.
The delay issues have not been explained by authorities and has left staff in dark which fuelling their frustration.
When staff confronted the Southern Highlands health authority in Mendi, they were only told that the delay was with the Finance Department. The blame game has continued for the last four pay periods which is very annoying.
These staff are claiming that their rightful monies must be paid out before the year ends so that they can enjoy the festive season.
They have also appealed that they will not rest until their monies are fully and fairly paid.

Frustrated Staff