Implement National Health Act, others – Doctors urge FG
NAN-H-5
Strike
By Yetunde Fatungase
Abeokuta, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Ogun chapter, on Monday urged the Federal Government to implement the National Health Act to revive the health sector.
The doctors, with members from the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Sagamu, the Neuropychiatric Hospital (ARO) Abeokuta, and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), made the call at a press conference in Abeokuta.
They threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if their demands were not met, describing their planned action as a “mother of all strikes”.
NAN reports that some of their demands included provision of adequate equipment and infrastructure, inclusion of resident doctors into pension scheme, welfare of health workers, and the implementation of the National Health Act.
The Southwest leader of the association, Dr Aderinwale Oluseyi, said the news conference was strategic.
“We have had it in all the states of Southwest with the purpose of getting the public be informed and intervene,” Oluseyi said.
“The health sector as we speak is in coma state. We cannot even boast of essential needs like water and disposables in our hospitals,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria has the poorest health indices among the comity of nations.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and other well meaning Nigerians to address the myriad of problems threatening the sector.
“The situation is that bad now. All efforts to get the Federal Government to meet our demands have been to no avail. We are on mission to save lives.
“If this we fail this time, we would have no option than to go on the national strike in the country,” Oluseyi said. (NAN)
YAF/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola