Medical activities were on Tuesday suspendes at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH) on following the industrial action embarked upon by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the Joint Action Committee (JAC).
The strike according to a source in the union became necessary following the failure on the part of the Kogi State Government to pay resident doctors their salaries and arrears.
“It is quite unfortunate that we are experiencing this situation in the health sector today. All our demands to the state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello have been swept under the carpet.
“Many of our colleagues have not been paid for several months. We find it difficult to come to the hospital and treat patients because we are psychologically and morally down.
“I can no longer fuel my car. I now patronize commercial vehicles while going to work. For how long are we going to continue with this hardship?
” I wont be surprise if our dear governor comes out to categorise us as ‘Political Doctors’ because of this strike just the way he called striking civil servants in the state as Political Civil Servants.
“Our demands are simple. He should pay us our salaries and arrears and see if we wont return to the hospital. Just the other day, a colleague of mine borrowed N100 so that she could come to work. After closing hour, she was looking for who to give her transport fare. Can you imagine the condition doctors have now found themselves in Kogi State? The source explained.
Meanwhile, when DAILY POST correspondent visited the Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja, it was deduced that the hospital was almost deserted.
The usual car park in the hospital premises was almost empty.
In a visit to some of the wards, such as the accident and emergency wards, Male wards, children wards, few patients were spotted as no doctor was on ground to attend to them.
The strike has forced many patients to be transferred to private hospitals within the state capital
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