A village nurse of Wainunu, Bua on Vanua Levu feels village nurses have been forgotten by the system because some serve for months — or even years — without proper pay or formal contracts.
Luisa Tinaimere said she and other nurses continued to serve their communities despite not receiving regular pay.
“It’s like we have been forgotten,” Ms Tinaimere said.
“We have been submitting our reports regularly, but some village nurses have still not received their contracts.”
Ms Tinaimere said she was paid only twice in 2023 and received her last proper payment in August last year.
“This year, I was surprised to see $1600 deposited into my account. I’m not even sure whether that payment was meant for me or was part of my salary arrears.”
Since then, she said, she has not received any further pay.
“We need funds to travel to villages and visit patients who may need urgent medical assistance.”
Ms Tinaimere said many nurses continued to serve out of passion and duty to their communities despite their financial hardships.
“Some nurses have to use their own money for fuel and supplies just to reach patients in remote areas.
“It’s disheartening to keep working without recognition or assurance of when we will be paid.”
She said they were only asking for what is fair, which is timely pay for the work they do.
When pressed on the issue, Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa said they dealt with the matter on a case-by-case basis.
He said some village nurses were replaced by the vanua, and this affected the submission of bank details.
