Ogun NMA throws support behind NARD strike, urges FG to address demand
The Ogun state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has appealed to the federal government to promptly settle all unpaid debts and address important concerns impacting the nation’s medical workforce.
The State chairman, Dr Luqman Ogunjimi, made the appeal during a press conference held at the NMA secretariat in Abeokuta, on Tuesday.
Throwing his weight behind the indefinite strike that commenced on Saturday, Ogunjimi lamented that only one of NARD’s 19 demands had been met by the federal government.
Recall that resident doctors nationwide had commenced an indefinite strike to press home their demands for better working conditions, improved welfare, fair remuneration, and others.
The federal government had failed to implement 19 key demands, including the payment of owed allowances, reversal of alleged unjust dismissals, and resolution of stagnated career progression.
Ogunjimi called on the government to stop what he called “unjust dismissals” of physicians in hospitals and to promptly pay all unpaid arrears, including promotion and accouterments allowances.
The NMA also warned that Nigeria’s healthcare system is being severely hampered by concerns like deteriorating hospital facilities, inadequate welfare, and the widespread migration of medical professionals, and it called for immediate action to solve these problems.
“No hospital is exempted from the strike that started on Saturday. All resident doctors under NARD are participating, and the strike is indefinite as only one of the 19 demands has been met.
“These demands must be treated as a national emergency, the rising rate of brain-drain, infrastructural collapse, and poor welfare conditions are pushing the nation’s health system to the brink.”
He urged Nigerians to be patient, telling them that the strike was an essential measure to force the government to respect agreements and save the health sector.
Among others present at the conference were Dr. Abdulghaffar Kolade from the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Dr. Adebayo Omogbolahan, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, and Dr. Monehin Olusola Olabimpe of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
During a visit to the Federal Medical Center, F.M.C, Abeokuta, on Wednesday, our correspondent observed that there was a slow pace of work at the facility as resident doctors at the hospital also joined the strike.
A patient, Onyekachi Faith, who spoke to our correspondent , said she arrived at the hospital at about 9am but wasn’t attended to untill 12pm.
She stated that the doctors were all in haste to close and told patients not to return next week until the strike is called off.
“ I have been here since 9am, they didn’t attend to me till 12pm and the doctors were so much in a haste. They said they are on strike and even told us not to come till the strike is over” she said.