BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE AND TIMOTHY AGBOR
There are growing apprehensions across the nation as the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors enters third week. The resident doctors had been on the war path with the Federal Government as they proceeded on an indefinite strike on Monday, August 9, in protest against the delay in the payment of their salaries and allowances, and poor condition of service.
The situation degenerated for the worse as the NARD ignored the order by the National Industrial Court, Abuja that the warring parties (FG and NARD), should maintain status quo by suspending the ongoing nationwide strike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Visits by The Point to some teaching hospitals in the country as of the time of filing this report showed that majority of the teaching hospitals in the country were operating at an average of 30per cent capacity. With the absence of the resident doctors at the teaching hospitals, consultants, nurses and the doctors undergoing the one-year National Youth Service, were seen attending only to critical cases.
At the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, the accident and emergency unit and other sections were open to skeletal services. This, our correspondent learnt, placed intense pressure on the medical teams that were on duty. It was gathered that the situation also placed heavy pressure on the state and general hospitals in Ibadan, the state capital, and surrounding communities.
On the effect of the strike on the tertiary teaching hospital, the Public Relations Officer, UCH, Toye Akinrinola, said, “We are coping with the little we can even with the strike on. It is the critical cases that we are looking at (at the moment), simple.”
A medical personnel in the hospital, who volunteered information on the ground of anonymity, expressed worries that the strike was already taking a bad toll on the Nigerian health sector. According to her, the situation might further worsen the level of brain drain in the sector as most physicians were already considering the option of seeking a greener pasture outside the country.
“It is not a secret or an unknown fact even to a non-professional that Nigerian doctors are respected and their services are required in overseas countries where they have better welfare packages and modern facilities to work with. The situation at hand may lead the nation’s health sector to the precipe if care is not taken. It is high time the authorities addressed the situation before it turns out to be too late.”
At the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, patients expressed fear that their health conditions had been deteriorating due to lack of access to quality medical care since the strike commenced. They said that the option of relocating to private hospitals for treatment was unattractive as a result of the high cost.
Majority of the patients seeking treatment at the OAUTH were being turned back at the gate of the hospital on account of the strike. A nurse who was on duty at the time of the visit told our correspondent in confidence that they resulted to turning back patients since the commencement of the industrial action due to shortage in workforce.
The nurse, who explained that the consultants were still attending to those who were already on admission in the wards before the strike, said, “We have, however, not been taking new patients. For now, we only attend to those who are already on admission. I can’t tell you more than that.”
At the hospital’s Cardiology Clinic, a patient, who identified herself simply as Mrs Adebola, lamented that despite the fact that her health was deteriorating, those on duty could not help her. She said, “I came here (OAUTH) to see a doctor. I have been having heartburn but they asked me to come back when the strike is over. I have to visit a private hospital.”
Some patients who were denied admission were seen roaming the hospital premises with others in pensive mood. The NARD’s office at the hospital was deserted as the resident doctors shunned the order of the National Industrial Court that they should return to work pending the determination of the case.
The Point gathered that some of the striking doctors had resulted to working in their private hospitals as the strike continued.
Checks on private clinics in Ile-Ile indicated that the number of their in-patients had increased. A resident of Lagere, Ile-Ile, said, “When I visited the OAUTH last week, they told me that doctors were on strike. I had visited to complain of the recurring headache. I did not have other choice than to visit a chemist in my area; I am getting better now.”
However, at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, resident doctors did not part take in the ongoing strike. An office assistant at the NARD’s office, OSUTH (name not disclosed) explained that the doctors visited the wards to attend to patients. “The chairman is in the theatre while the secretary just stepped out now for ward rounds,” he said.
Our correspondent noticed that patients were being attended to by doctors and nurses. Efforts to speak with officials of NARD in the hospital, however, proved abortive as they were not available when visited.
The spokesman for the hospital, Ayodele Adeyemo, declined comment on the strike. He simply said, “You are free to move round the hospital and see what is happening for yourself.”
Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, president of NARD had, however, insisted that his member would not return to work unless the FG acceded to their demands even as the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, threatened that they might be replaced if they refused to return to work.
