NAN-H-12
Strike
By Awayi Kuje
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Sept.7, 2017 (NAN) Dr Joshua Ndom, the Medical Director (MD), Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Keffi in Nasarawa State, has appealed to the resident doctors across the country to call off their ongoing strike and return to work to save lives.
Ndom told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Keffi that the strike had done more harm than good, especially to patients.
He said that there was the need for the doctors to return to work since their leadership had commenced negotiation with the Federal Government over their grievances.
Also, some patients at the centre appealed to the doctors to suspend the strike for their sake and for the overall development of the country.
They advised the Federal Government to do the needful by amicably resolving the ongoing nationwide resident doctors’ strike.
Mr Haruna Abubakar, a patient at the centre, said most patients were not happy with the strike.
“We are not happy about the situation as the ongoing strike will have negative effects on the lives of many Nigerians.
“The nurses are doing their best, but we want the doctors to be around considering their roles in saving lives,” Abubakar said.
Another patient, Mrs Gloria James also called for an end to the strike saying that many Nigerians could not afford the medical bills being charged by private hospitals.
According to her, although skeletal services are being provided by other medical personnel in the centres but the doctors are supposed to be present in case of complications.
NAN reports that the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on an indefinite strike on Sept.4 for improved welfare. (NAN)
AKW/JI/PAD
===========
Edited by Joseph Idika/Peter Dada