The ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Medical Association is taking its toll on patients. GBENGA ADEBOYE visited the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, to see the effect of the industrial action.

 

“President Jonathan should save us these pains. He should please in the name of God settle these doctors so that they can save us all from these fatal effects of incessant strikes by doctors.”

 

That was the appeal of Mrs Adewunmi, amidst tears at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta where her husband is on admission- a victim of political violence. Although she refused to mention the perpetrator, her husband was shot at a political function, three months ago at Ilaro, Yewa South local government area. So far, he has undergone two surgeries, but what makes the ongoing strike particularly painful for his family is the fact that the operation that was to herald her husband’s recovery process was to be performed on July 1st.

 

“We had struggled to get the money only for the doctors to come around on July 1st that the operation would not take place afterall. All our appeals fell on deaf ears as the doctors were unyielding. “They said the strike would not go on for more than three days. They were wrong. Since then, he has been in excruciating pain. Every single day brings despair amid fading hope. Three days is over three weeks now,” she lamented.

 

When Ayodele Yusuf fractured his leg in an auto crash last October, little did he know that this July will compound his condition. He has gone under the knife four times. His siblings had managed to get the cash for the last operation when doctors threw a spanner in the works with the current strike action. According to him, he rarely sleeps at night as his condition has relapsed, with no doctors, let alone consultants around to ease his pain.

 

“My only prayer to God is for the doctors to come back. I cannot effectively describe the pain that I go through every second. “I have spent over N500,000. That itself is a big problem. But for now, my well being is paramount. I have done my part in sourcing for funds but the doctors have deserted their patients. It is sad.”

 

The case of Mr Adam is that of to go or not to go. He was involved in a road accident two months ago and fractured his pelvic bone. According to the wife, he appears healed but the only certified professional to give the nod is a medical doctor. For now, there are no doctors around and the man is in involuntary ‘incarceration’.

 

“My brother see me o. My husband had an accident and sustained a fracture. He seems to be okay but we can’t just go until a doctor says so. What can we do, the poor man is in bed and the doctors are on strike. That is our dilemma, our headache. My appeal is for President Jonathan to see to this strike so that we will not continue to waste away.”

 

Mrs Akintaro’s son, Kehinde, had an operation just before the strike. For the post surgery care, she has to make do with whatever care the nurses and other health workers can give and pray that would be enough.

 

“I pray that God will enter Jonathan so that he will see the fatal effects of doctors’ strike. My son is at the mercy of nurses after his operation. They did the operation and abandoned us. It is not fair. This is life we are talking about.”

 

A patient who did not want her name in print said she had witnessed doctors prior to the strike egging patients to go to their own private hospital as there was no going back on the strike. “Some of these doctors are wicked. Can you imagine one of them telling some of us to seek help in private hospitals owned by them for proper care? It was then I knew the strike was as sure as death. The president should please help us. We are suffering too much. Is it a crime to be born in this country?” He queried.

 

All the wards visited by LEADERSHIP Weekend – outpatient, paediatric, post natal, emergency, consultation and children emergency were deserted, save for nurses milling around. The consulting rooms were also deserted as no doctor was in sight.

 

The PRO, Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) of the hospital’s chapter, Otunba Tiamiyu Taiwo, described the strike as inhuman and wicked. According to him, the doctors jump at strike action because it affords them the opportunity to divert patients at government hospitals to their private hospitals where they charge exorbitant prices for treatment. He further stated that doctors behave like gods, adding that it was time Nigerians rose against their excesses. He dismissed the claims in some sections of the media that doctors at FMC are attending to patients.

 

“Go round this hospital and see things for yourself. They go about telling lies that doctors and consultants are working at FMC. Not here. They have abandoned their duty posts to concentrate on their private practice where poor patients pay heavily for poor services. It is morally wrong for doctors to condemn patients to perpetual pain and suffering. “It is not just the patients that are affected, the relatives taking care of them are miserable. It destroys the economic wellbeing of families. Husband is sick; wife is sleeping in the hospital, who takes care of the children? Who goes out to work to pay the medical bill? That is the human feeling we are talking about. Doctors strike should not always be total, because when it is total, it is fatal,” he lamented.

 

He however joined in the appeal to President Jonathan to quickly resolve the strike. For now, patients at hospitals across the land are writhing in pain.

 

The question being asked by many Nigerians is: How long will the strike continue for?

 

By Gbenga Adeboye

Leadership