As the Joint
Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and federal government failed to reach a
consensus, teaching hospitals across the country have lamented on the damage
the
action posed on the health sector. The health workers who embarked on a
nationwide strike on April 17 are protesting for the adjustment of Consolidated
Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) scale, specialist allowance, same scale
promotion, employment of additional health professionals, implementation of
court judgements, enhanced entry point, upward review of retirement age from 60
to 65.
When the
Guardian visited one of the federal hospital, it was observed that the
activities were at minimal as only doctors were seen attending to patients.
Interacting
with a worker at the facility who pleaded anonymity, she said that the hospital
have lost a lot due to ongoing strike actions. She explained to the guardian
that a lot of lives have been lost, expiration of blood and drugs at its
maximum because of lack of the customers.
She also
lamented, on loss of training period because teaching hospitals are there to train
doctors and carry out research but during this moment of strike training period
are lost thereby giving room to the graduation of quacks as medical personnel.
“There are areas lecturers will not touch, but you will come to exam and see
it. As at time they present it to you, you are a quack so it has a future
effect. The government should look into it holistically.” She said.
She added:
“Also, revenues to the hospital are lost; patient’s confidence is also lost
because some patients do not have confidence in these hospitals where we have
experts. After the strike we normally see people calling to ask if the hospital
is in strike. These are some of the issues because we have lost their
confidence.
“Since the
federal government approved the Public Private Partnership (PPP) some of the
companies in this partnership with the hospitals are losing revenue and also
breach of contract.”
When asked
if the number of deaths increased as a result of the strike, she claimed not
have the exact figure, though predicting the number of deaths will be enormous.
At Nnamdi
Azikiwe Teaching Hospital (NATH) Nnewi, it was observed that activities were
ground as a result of the strike; departments were empty and some under lock
and key. The Generator was off as such work can be done. Patients are already
leaving because nobody is attending to them.
A student
Radiographer told the guardian that he was in the ward this morning and a
patient died because nurses who would attend to the patient already left
because of the strike.
At
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla Enugu, a student
simply identified as Friday blamed the government for its insensitivity toward
the plight of the people saying that the doctors cannot do all the works so
it’s detrimental to the way things function.
He said that
at national orthopaedic, a patient with burns was admitted but could not be
treated because the laboratory scientists were not there to carry out the
necessary tests and the patient was referred to reroute to a private hospital
which lacks the necessary facilities.
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