Jubilation as Resident Doctors Suspends 2 Months Old Strike in Taraba


Posted on: Tue 23-02-2021

The joy of Tarabans especially patients who could not afford the high medical bills being charged by private hospitals following the strike action embarked on by the Taraba state chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors  in the past two months  know no bounds  as the doctor unanimously agreed to call off the strike.

The doctors,  it would be recalled down their working implements since December 24th, 2020 due to the inability of the state government to honour and implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by  in September 2020.

Among the MOU signed by the duo which due to the inability of the government to fulfilled it parts led to the strike which crippled activities in government owned hospitals,  includes; lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) , lack of running cost to the secondary health care facilities   non payment of covid-19 inducement and hazard allowance for health care workers,  increas man Power in health sector, among others.  

The members who have  decides to put hold to the strike, says their decision to pick up their stethoscopes and go back to work was necessitated by the intervention of the state governor,  Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku,  whom according to them, have met with "most of the demands made by the association while some of the demands are receiving attention at various levels. "

The leadership of the association who made this known via it state President in Jalingo,  Dr. Ahmed Gabriel Uba, also lamented that during the said strike,  the association lost one of it member to Covid-19 and lassa Fever.  

Sad that  the deceased"died from renal complications"  this , as affirmed by him "further reiterated the need for an infectious disease especially Lassa Fever disease diagnostic and treatment center in Taraba state where this disease is endemic and has claimed lots of lives of health care workers and the populace. "

The association who also called on the governor to "help us facilitate the installation and activation of Molecular laboratory with PCR machine as donated by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for quick diagnosis of Lassa Fever and to donate specific dialysis machine for lassa Fever treatment at the state specialist hospital" lauded the efforts put in place by various groups, and individuals to pressed on the association to cut off the strike.

Elated by the decision of the association to bow to pressure,  residents who could not hide their joy, urged the government of the state to tread extra legitimate miles in fulfilling the remaining demands of the doctors in order to debar them from embarking on another strike.  

Some of the people who bared their minds to our correspondent,  said with this development,  they have concluded plans to evacuate their sick ones who were earlier admitted in private hospitals back to government own hospitals in the state.

By Charles Akpeji