As it is said that when two Elephants fight, the grass bears the brunt, so could unfavourable development that has emanated as a result of the industrial action embarked upon by health workers nation-wide be described.

 

The continuing strike which clocks precisely two months and four days today has extensively affected the lives of Nigerians; many have died as a result while others are lying critically ill at different national hospitals with lack of adequate care and attention.

 

For the purpose of finding lasting solution to the crisis that has only made privately owned hospitals a last resort and many of them smiling to their banks at the detriment of hapless patients, stakeholders involved in the imbroglio have been begged to reconsider their position for the benefit of the suffering masses that are bearing the brunt.

 

The strike which was called by the Nation Union of Allied Health Professionals and the Joint Health Sector Union on November 12, 2014 is   yielding   more adverse effect as       other health organisations in the health sector have started joining the strike enmass.

 

In Kwara State, other health unions such as the National Association of Nurses and Midwifes has joined their counterparts in the indefinite strike to drive home their demands.

 

As a result, residents of Ilorin and its environs   have appealed to the relevant authorities to end the strike as it   has   brought untold hardship   to the masses.

 

Some residents of the state expressed their feelings and   urged the union and the federal government to put an end to the strike action because of the patients who are in the hospitals suffering with nobody to attend to them.

 

“We want government to come to our aid so that the suffering masses could be attended to and their suffering alleviated.” Rukayat Ojo lamented.

 

The Oludofia of Idofia in Kwara State, Oba Suberu Agboola Adeyeye Oyesoro II   lamented   the dangers of the action on the masses. “It is affecting our people because there is no health worker to treat them so we want government to come to our aid.”

 

Meanwhile the Chairman, Kwara State chapter of Coalition of Health Sector Unions and the chairman, National Association of Nurses and Midwifes, Comrade Ajiboye Moses explained that the health workers are agitating for improved remuneration, employment of more personnel and the rectification of some abnormalities in the state health sector.

 

 

Also the Public Relations Officer of JOHESU, Comrade Joseph Adekeye noted that the members of the union were always committed to saving the lives of the masses rather than causing hardship to them.

 

Both comrades implored the government at both federal and state levels to take pragmatic steps in making sure that the demands of the health workers are met.

 

In Gombe State,   the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Adamu Bojude made a clarion call on voluntary organisations to assist doctors in the state in rendering medical service to patients so that the situation could be managed to a large extend.

 

He revealed that in spite of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) strike that has been adversely felt in hospitals nation-wide, doctors in the state   have been rendering skeletal service to patients.

 

The state NMA chairman revealed that the doctors alone cannot manage the situation, adding that theynee d help in carrying out their duties.

 

He said that so far only the Red Cross has been assisting them in the hospitals and that the number of volunteers was limited, and called on other voluntary organisations to emulate the Red Cross.

 

Bojude added that doctors could only render service to out-patients at units like the Accident and Emergency units.

 

He appealed to the public to visit the hospital if they had any health challenges as they can still be attended by doctors. .

 

“I am appealing to people to come because the general impression is that the hospital is on strike.

 

“We, doctors are not on strike, patients should come, we are working, “he said.

On the other hand, the NMA chairman called on the federal government to look in to the issues raised by JOHESU with a view to addressing their plight where necessary   just as he urged JOHESU to consider government’s demands with fairness.

 

Meanwhile, towards the end of 2014, people believed that the face-off between the two giants would soon come to an end, in what seemed like a twist to the development, the Joint Health Sector Union and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU) came hard on the Federal Government with an accusation that government has stopped the salaries of its striking members.

 

Quoting a statement dated December 23, 2014 that was jointly signed by leaders of 11 bodies, including MHWUN, NANNM, SSAUTHRIAI, NUAHP, NASUEAI and the Chairperson Assembly of Health Professionals.

 

The striking bodies revealed that it was unfortunate that the Federal Government could resort to this instead of bringing an end to the on-going strike.

 

“Instead of the Federal Government to do the needful and demonstrate commitment towards bringing an end to the plight of Nigerians and health workers by addressing the issues and restoring public health services, it has resorted to stopping the salaries of our members which was not done to members of NMA and MDCAN that embarked on strike even at the peak of Ebola Virus Disease outbreak,” the union said.

 

Continuing, “on dispute of right and not dispute of interest and we shall not succumb to any threat of intimidation and harassment by the government”.

 

While making an effort to sympathise with Nigerians on the hardship the situation has caused, JOHESU urged Nigerians to bear with its members while the situation lasts.

 

“We have to take this painful, but inevitable action, bearing in mind that we have been on this same issue since year 2010.

 

“We wish members of the public to note that it is the Federal Government that should be blamed and held responsible for the non-resolution of this conflict since the Federal government have chosen to continually discriminate, marginalize and victimize members of JOHESU nationwide”, the   statement added.

 

By: OKEY OBIOZO