Doctors’ strike paralyses medical services in Bayelsa

The three-day warning strike declared by members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to press for the payment of outstanding salaries and allowances of its members nationwide has paralysed healthcare delivery at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa, as well as other parts of the country.

Dr Ugoeze Asinobi, chairman of FMC, Yenagoa chapter of NARD, said members of the association complied with the directive of their national body.

“We are complying with the directive to commence a three-day warning strike,” he said.
“It is a nationwide issue, but the strike by other categories of health workers in the hospital is a local matter and is not related to our own.”

Members of the Joint Health Sector Unions at the FMC, Yenagoa, also joined NARD in the protest.

Out-patient wards were reportedly closed while patients were turned back by officials of the unions. Only those on admission were attended to by some health workers.

Mr Simon Bernabas, an executive of Joint Health Sector Unions at the FMC in Yenagoa said the unions were compelled to embark on a warning strike over non-payment of promotion arrears.

Bernabas expressed the regret of the unions over the hardship of the public, and appealed for understanding. He said there was total compliance, as representatives of the various unions were going round to monitor compliance.

Some patients who were at the hospital to receive treatment at the Out-Patients Department (OPD) expressed disappointment over the strike.

Chioma Ukandu, a patient, appealed to the government to intervene and resolve the grievances of the workers.

“I am surprised to find out that workers are on strike, even as health workers are supposed to render essential services,” Ukandu said. “The feuding parties should consider the health of members of the public and resolve these issues without delay.”