Currently, he said, workers at the health center are hired through the Saipan Employment Agency Services, a manpower services.
Since 2006 when he assumed his current position, he said the health center has had only 10 workers, including two nurses, one pharmacist and one ultrasound technician.
The center has two doctors at present, he added.
The center, however, should have at least 21 workers to provide health services on Rota, he said.
“They are not providing us with enough manpower,” Calvo said, as he expressed his frustration with the current system.
He said he has been asking the government to provide the center with the needed workforce but “nothing has happened to my request.”
The current system is now affecting the relationship of health workers because those directly hired are receiving a higher salary compared to those hired by the manpower agency, he said.
Because the health center is open 24 hours a day, the government should look into the concerns of the health workers, Calvo said.
Despite the lack of manpower, he said the health center’s workforce continues to attend to the needs of the patients and the outpatients in the community.
“I am still hoping the manpower agency can hire additional workers to fill up what was stated in its contract,” he said.
