141 LAUTECH Teaching Hospital workers quit over salaries

NO fewer than 100 nurses, 20 consultant staff, 10 laboratory scientists, five physiotherapists, six pharmacists as well as many resident doctors and ward orderlies have left the employ of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, in the last five months.

This was disclosed by the branch chairman, Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, Dr Afolabi Salawu, on behalf of all the labour unions in the institution during a press conference to address the non-payment of salary to all categories of workers.

Salawu, who is also the chairman of committee of unions in the hospital, warned that the trend of the mass exodus of professionals, if not checked, might cause problems for the institution.

According to him, “an institution in its prime, despite being understaffed and yet losing its best hands, has dual implication on both the healthcare service delivery in the state as well as grooming the future professionals.”

Dr Salawu was flanked at the press conference by the chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union, Mr Abiodun Lawal; chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Mr Bayo Ajayeoba; General Secretary, Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Alabi Ayobami; Chairman, Medical Health Workers Union of Nigerian, Mrs Serifat Akanbi and ARD president, Dr Sebastine Oiwoh.

Salawu further revealed that apart from the fact that patients would no longer have access to the professional service of the experts and consultants who had gone, the medical students in the institution would also lose the opportunity to learn from best hands in their specialised fields.

He added that the trend was also putting pressure on an already demoralised workforce.