Politics Doctors, Health Workers at Loggerheads Over Strike

L

LequteMan

Guest
The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) today has directed health workers in federal hospitals to commence an indefinite strike throughout Nigeria, while medical doctors under the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), have been directed to ensure that the delivery of health services in hospitals are not interrupted.

JOHESU had demanded among others, the non-skipping of Salary Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) 10, implementation of National Health Bill, Consultancy and Specialist Allowances and Call/Shift Duty plus other professional allowances.

In a statement, JOHESU called for the removal of Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, saying the resulting problems of the strike should be blamed on the minister for failing to implement the agreements the Nigerian government reached with the health workers.

“While we sincerely apologize the inconveniences this action may cause Nigerians, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, should be held responsible," the union said.


The President of NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said that the health workers were being unrealistic with most of their demands.

“Already, they went to court and the court granted some of their requests but they are not talking about those ones. They simply harp on the ones that were turned down and they want to embark on strike”, Enabulele said.

“While we have nothing against the right of people to determine how best to actualize their demands, we shall however not tolerate any attempt to obstruct medical and dental practitioners in the course of rendering their official duties.”

Another health sector union, the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), had on Monday embarked on an indefinite strike at the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.

NUAHP had indicated that it would suspend its strike on today but JOHESU, which still comprises the health workers, would be on strike.

Some of NUAHP’s demands are the abolition of appointment of only full time staff of universities as chief executives of teaching hospitals and Federal Medical Centres; abolition of offices of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee; the release of the interview conducted for members of the union to the posts of directors; stoppage of imposition of medical practitioners as heads of department over other professionals and the immediate removal of the Minister of Health.

The NMA has criticized the demands as a ploy of wanting to be at par with professional doctors. It is believed that the doctors suspected that the health workers were planning to hinder health service delivery from Thursday by locking down hospitals and laboratories so that the doctors would not have access to work.

“We also call on all Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors to ensure sustained provision of clinical/healthcare services to Nigerians in all public hospitals, by providing adequate security, and ensuring access to hospital materials, equipment and other healthcare facilities in the hospitals.

“We strongly urge them to remain committed to their God-given responsibility of offering quality healthcare services to the toiling and long deprived people of Nigeria, in all public hospitals," NMA said
 

Attachments

  • strike.jpg
    strike.jpg
    6.3 KB · Views: 24
Back
Top