Patients on admission at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital are now having their fates hanging in the balance, due to the ongoing strike by members of the Association of Resident
Doctors(ARD) over unpaid four months salaries.
When journalists visited the University Teaching Hospital on Saturday,
some of the patients complained that the doctors had practically abandoned their duty posts since Monday April 11 and this had deprived them of efficient medical treatments.
Some of the patients, who spoke under anonymity , said those diagnosed for critical ailments had pressed for referral to private hospitals and Federal Teaching Hospital , Ido Ekiti, to prevent sudden death.
A top member of the hospital’s management team who reacted to the strike under anonymity because he was not authorized to speak said: “We are speaking to the striking doctors , but it seems as if they are recalcitrant , they didn’t want to bow to pressure at all.
“But we are optimistic that the meeting of Monday , April 18 will yield good result. Hopefully, by Monday or Tuesday, they should suspend the strike and return to work”, he said.
The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Ekiti chapter, Dr. John Akinbote , who justified the strike action , said the body and its affiliates , had always been the vanguards of health promotion in the country, saying payment their salaries and other benefits should not be allowed to suffer unduly.
He said it was quite disheartening that those sacrificing for robust healthcare delivery in the country were being abandoned.
“People should come out and speak for the doctors. Our strike action is to press home for the payment of four months salaries being owed our members.
“We are all aware of the fuel scarcity and our children are in schools, we have to pay their school fees and also attend to other bills . People will live better if appropriate things are done . Morbidity and mortality have increased as a result of poor health condition of our people.
“The unpaid salaries are exacerbating the medical conditions of Nigerians and the government must do the needful. If we refuse to go on strike, the government will just sleep over this matter . The fight is not about doctors alone, but for all workers.
“How do people get money to go to work when salaries are not paid? We are talking to ARD on how the salaries can be paid, so that they can return to work.
” We are appealing to the government to find a balanced ground to resolve the issue. We expect the government to do the needful, so that the strike will not be prolonged unnecessarily” he pleaded.
Earlier before now, patients had gradually abandoning the hospital for other private health institutions and Federal Teaching hospital due to poor facilities in place.
Some of the Very Important Personalities admitted in the hospital in recent time also complained about alleged poor attitude to work by some staff and filthy environment, which they said could cause health hazards.
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