THE Lesotho Nurses Association (LNA) has quit as a member of the Coalition of Health Professionals Associations (CHPA), citing unforeseen circumstances.

CHPA says although LNA’s letter received on Wednesday stated no clear reasons for the withdrawal, the association however suspects the move was brought about by the salary struggle by nurses at the Queen ’Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH), commonly known as Tšepong.
A press statement released by CHPA shows that prior to the struggle, it was highlighted by the Coalition that the next struggle would be on QMMH staff salaries.
It however, indicates that with regard to the above mentioned plan, the Coalition earlier this year noticed that LNA had among others decided to take forward the said plan on its own.

It says the Coalition and the Lesotho Workers Association (LeWA) later realised that the events taking place at Tšepong were affecting other members of the Coalition and LeWA, hence they decided to take action by petitioning the Minister of Labour and Employment.

The CHPA says the LNA and the main body seemed to progressively grow as was seen with LNA turning down at last minute the invitation to the briefing on how the press conference went and how the Coalition and LeWA were collaborating to tackle the Tšepong problem.  

It further shows that several attempts were turned down as LNA said this matter was for nurses only and as such, it wanted to handle it alone.
The statement notes that the Coalition in collaboration with LeWA wrote to the management of the hospital, requesting the withdrawal of adverts publicizing posts of the dismissed nurses.  

The Coalition also wanted the hospital to consider reinstating the dismissed nurses.