Healthcare services collapse as doctors continue strike in Enugu

Posted by admin Enugu, State News Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

HEALTHCARE delivery in Enugu State government health institutions has grinded to a halt, following the industrial action embarked upon by doctors since December 1, last year to protest non-implementation of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESSS for medical workers in the state as well as lack of basic facilities in the public health institutions.

The doctors’ strike has continued to linger even when the National Industrial Court had ordered them to resume duty since last week. The aggrieved doctors claimed that the court order was not properly served on them and therefore, not binding on them.

The doctors declared an indefinite strike following the state government’s alleged reluctance to enter negotiation on how to resolve the contentious issue raised by the doctors.

The strike has, however, imposed serious difficulties on the people of the state especially the patients, who rely on such health institutions for medication. Such patients now patronise private hospitals and traditional healers with the attendant risks.

Some of the patients have to travel to the Universiry of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla for medication, a situation that has induced much pressure on the hospital which is said to be congested.

The Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT Parklane Teaching Hospital, which is the major public health institution in Enugu State capital, had been deserted since the last ten weeks as the doctors completely abandoned their duty posts.

Vanguard observed during a visit to the hospital, that some of the wards had been taken over by lizards and rats, as no staff could be seen in the abandoned complexes. It was also observed that most of the offices were untidy while few matrons seen within the premises rendering skeletal services, lamented that health services in the hospital had been halted on account of the strike.

A student nurse, who preferred anonymity described the situation at the teaching hospital as very pathetic, saying some of the sophisticated medical equipment might stop working by the time the strike was called off due to lack of maintenance for a very long period.

The Enugu State Government had approached the National Industrial Court over the industrial dispute and succeeded in obtaining an order of the court directing the striking doctors to resume duty immediately but it was turned down.

Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA in the state, Dr. Gerald Nwafor told Vanguard that the doctors were not expected to suspend the strike because the said court order was not served on them.

“The state government has stopped our January salary because of the strike and they are threatening to arrest the doctors for making legitimate demands. Even when they claim that they obtained a court order to compel us to suspend the strike, I can tell you that we did not see anything like that. We were no served and cannot be blamed for not resuming duty.

All we are saying is that the CONMESSS should be implemented for doctors in the state while facilities in the hospital should be upgraded, then we can return to work. Intimidating the doctors will not proffer the needed solution,” Nwafor said.

-Vanguard

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