Pregnant women, children, the aged and patients seeking care in public hospitals are bearing the brunt of the three-day warning strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD.

 

The strike was called yesterday to press for payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, and training opportunities for its members, among other demands.

In Lagos, the strike took most patients unawares as they arrived early to keep appointments at various clinics, as only skeletal services were available.

Activities at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba; Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba; National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi were severely hampered as most of the outpatient clinics, though open, were almost deserted as little or no activity was going on.

 

— LUTH-ARD

Speaking to newsmen, President, LUTH ARD, Dr. Omojowolo Olubunmi who disclosed that the industrial action at LUTH was in line with the NARD’s three-day warning strike, also explained that the strike at LUTH was indefinite.

He said: “It is just coincidence that our strike coincided with the three-day warning strike called by our national body, but the strike in LUTH is indefinite and we have decided not to back down until our demands from management of LUTH are met.

“We decided to resume our strike due to lack of appreciable progress in our negotiations and deliberations with the hospital management on the issues raised. We have found ourselves left with no other choice.

“We are gravely concerned about the impact the astronomical increase in hospital charges is having on patients and this is also affecting our training as resident doctors, as many patients cannot afford these fees.”

Olubunmi, who spoke to Vanguard shortly after a meeting of the hospital management and other workers of the hospital, said although they had made little progress in their negotiations, the contentious issues they are demanding for are yet to be touched.

He said: “To show human face, we have allowed our house officers to work in conjunction with consultants. At least, to take care of patients already on admission but we are not admitting new patients.”

 

LUTH still open— CMD

LUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Akin Osibogun, who stated that the strike was not in the interest of the patients, declared that the hospital was still open for patients.

Osibogun, who defended the management’s stand on some of the outstanding issues with ARD, urged the warring parties to exercise patience. He said: “The hospital is open and running. I will just appeal to anybody who is contemplating a strike to consider the interest of the patients even if there were inadequacies. Going on a strike cannot help the patients. “If you want to help the patients you continue to provide services and discuss with appropriate management level so that we improve on what we are doing. So it is not a strike that is likely to be in the interest of the patients.”

 

Igbobi, Yaba, Yenagoa

President of ARD, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr. Akindele Akinta-yo, said the doctors can only attend to emergency cases.

On his part, President, ARD-Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Olusegun Akinwotu affirmed that if their demand is not met, there is tendency of embarking on an indefinite strike come July 1, as earlier directed by their national body.

In a related development at FMC, Yenagoa, services were grounded as doctors stayed away from their duty posts.

Also taking part in the strike were members of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, at the FMC, Yenagoa, over non-payment of promotion arrears.

Dr. Ugoeze Asinobi, Chairman, FMC, Yenagoa chapter of NARD, said members of the association complied with the directive of their national body.

Mr. Simon Barnabas, an executive member of JOHESU, said the unions were compelled to embark on a warning strike over non-payment of promotion arrears.

He, however, regretted the hardship faced by members of the public and appealed for understanding.

 

In Benin

The University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, complied with the warning strike, unlike their counterparts at the Benin Central Hospital, who shunned the action.

Vanguard observed that consultants took over responsibilities of resident doctors at UBTH.

President of the Association of Resident Doctors, UBTH branch, Dr. Goodluck Imoudu, said the warning strike achieved hundred percent success, saying “it was a directive from the national secretariat and we must comply.

“But as doctors, we do empathise with our patients. So some resident doctors have to properly handover their cases to consultants. We had to do that so that the patients will not suffer.”

Vanguard, however, observed that the doctors were at work at the state-owned Benin Central Hospital. A source close to the resident doctors explained that “this is just a warning strike. We believe that the life of the patients are more important. But we are hoping that the matter will be resolved amicably.”

 

The issues

An official of NARD, UNTH chapter, said that the union would hold a rally today to review the strike action and thereafter take a decision on whether or not to join. NARD is demanding parity in salary between doctors and other health workers as well as skipping of grade level 12, failure to produce a blueprint on residency training in conjunction with the associa-tion and other stakeholders, which would consist of all aspects of residency training, including local training modules, funding and overseas attachments, among others