More hospitals shut as Kano, Lagos health workers join strike

Medical services have stopped in public health facilities in Kano after health workers in the state joined the ongoing nationwide strike.

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) had announced an indefinite strike on April 17, citing the government’s refusal to meet its demands.

One of such demands is to be at par with doctors in terms of salary — which the federal government said is not practicable.

On Tuesday, the union’s leadership instructed health workers in states and local governments to join the industrial action.

NAN reports that activities at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Abdullahi Wase Hospital in Kano have been paralysed as a result of the JOHESU.

Checks around the two hospitals on Thursday revealed that many departments had shut down, while many patients were also seen stranded.

Some patients who spoke with NAN expressed dismay over the strike action.

Uwani Hamman, one of the patients, pleaded with the striking workers to consider their plight and return to work.

Another patient at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital told NAN on condition of anonymity that she was concern over how the patients’ relatives were left to clean the toilets.

A staff of Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, who also pleaded anonymity, expressed concern over the situation.

According to him, “we knew about the strike yet we came ready to work and just as we entered the theatre to set up, we were driven away by our union leaders”.

He appealed to the federal government to speedily address the issues and come to terms with the association.

LIKE KANO, LIKE LAGOS 

Similarly, support activities at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, have been grounded as the health workers in the hospital have also joined the industrial action.

A visit by NAN to LASUTH showed total compliance as the support staff of the institution in departments such as haematology, peadiatrics and the administrative complexes complied with the order.

The administrative office of the heamatology department where the patients’ records are kept was under lock and other offices and some of the laboratories.

Adeolu Adedokun, director of clinical services, LASUTH, said the industrial dispute was not between the hospital and the striking workers but a directive from their national body.

“We don’t have any problems with our staff here, we are fine with them. As regards the strike, they may have no option than to obey the national directive of their association,” he said.

“The administration of Gov. Ambode is fully committed to their welfare and doing all within its powers.”