Written by: Oreva Ernest
Federal government-owned hospitals have resorted to the use of medical doctors undergoing the one year mandatory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) program and support nurses as replacements for medical doctors in it’s employment, who recently proceeded on an indefinite strike action nationwide.
Recall that the doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), rising from it’s National Executive Meeting (NEC) held in Umuahia, Abia State, had issued a communique directing it’s members across the Country to embark on an indefinite strike action from August 2, 2021. Following the directives, members of the body across the country had downed their tools vowing not to return to work until certain remains made by the body are attended to.
Some of the hospitals visited includes; Centre Hospital, Warri,
molecular laboratory Warri and others had only Corps members and other support staff in the lower cadre attending to patients.
Eye witness account has it that the Corps member doctors and other support nurses could be seen offering skeletal services to some patients with emergency cases. Pregnant women were in the labor ward while some people were at the Laboratory for COVID-19 test as several units of the health facility remain closed.
In his reacting, a man who simply gave his name as Mr Abel Aichimo, confirmed that the hospital was not completely shut down despite the strike. He narrated further that he brought his wife to the facility for antenatal and that the said wife was at the labour ward been attended to by the nurses.
“The health workers on duty are trying and working hard to make sure everything is normal and working fine in the absence of the Doctor’s”. Mr. Abel said.
Although there is presently no hope in sight that the strike could be called-off soon, but there is, however, evidence that government and other stakeholders in the health sector have been meeting with the hope of finding a common ground for settlement.
It could be recalled that doctors embarked on a similar industrial action in April, 2021 leaving many patients unattended to across various government hospitals and medical centers. The action was later suspend after a virtual meeting with members.
