(Lokoja)
Patients at the Federal Medical Centre(FMC),Lokoja, Kogi State have commended the Federal government and National Association Resident Doctors (NARD) for resolving the one week old strike by the association amicably.
Duaglobalnews Correspondent, who visited FMC on Monday, reports that many of the doctors were seen attending to patients.
The patients gave the commendation in separate interview with Duaglobalnews, an online publication in Lokoja at the FMC premises.
“It is gratifying to know that Resident Doctors have suspended the strike they embarked upon a week ago.
“This translates to resumption of duty and attending the health of the patients and boosting the health of nation at large.
“I must commend the Federal government and the doctors for showing understanding, as it were, in the interest of the patients. This is a big relief for me and other patients through out the country,” Mr Hassan Hakeem said.
A relation of one of the patients in the hospital said”,I think I am the happiest person as far as the suspension of the NARD’s strike is concerned.
” I was at the verge of moving my sick brother out of the hospital when the news filtered to me that the one week long strike has been suspended.
“No doubt, many patients, including my brother felt the effect of the strike while it lasted, but thank God it has been suspended and hope it will be called off eventually, sooner than later,”Nuhu Mohammed said.
Others called on the government and various industrial unions to replicate the method that led to the suspension of the strike on other contending issues between the government and various unions or associations, to check strikes in the country.
In its response to the strike, the Federal government released N4.6 billion to settle the allowances of 55,000 health workers in the various COVID-19 designated centres in the country, among other measures taken to arrive at the suspension of the strike.
However, NARD said that the strike was suspended in order to give the federal and state governments time to fulfill other outstanding demands of its members.
It its communiqué at the end of its virtual extra-ordinary national executive council meeting at the weekend, NARD said that the suspension also followed the appeal by Speaker, House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum and other stakeholders.
NARD acknowledged meanwhile, ”the provision of Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) to some hospitals but stressed the need for sustained supply.
The association also acknowledged ”that the Medical residency training funding has been included in the revised 2020 budget through the intervention of the speaker, House of Representatives and will be implemented as soon as the budget is assented to by the President.”
” At the same time, we await the fulfillment of the promise made by the Nigeria Governors Forum to ensure same is done in all the states.
”On the salary shortfall for 2014-2016, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has promised to intervene. Government has shown commitment to procure group life insurance for health workers.
”That the disengaged resident doctors at Jos University Teaching Hospital have been reinstated, the Chief Medical Director has been directed to pay their withheld salaries and comply with the provisions of the Medical Residency training Art.”
