Health workers begin indefinite strike over 23 demands

Health workers on the auspices of Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) on Monday commenced an indefinite strike over “negligence of the federal government to its demands”, asking that the federal government urgently attends to its 23 demands.

The union comprises physiotherapists, dietitians, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, optometrists, pharmacists, dental therapists, dental technologists, medical physicists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, medical social workers.

As reeled out by National President, NUAHP, Dr Chimela Ogbonna, at a press conference held at University College Hospital, Ibadan, the health workers seek the federal government’s attention to lack of reagents, drugs to treat patients in the hospitals, lack of basic working equipment for diagnosis and treatment of patients, shortage of manpower, preferential treatment of medical practitioners in the health sector and neglect of other healthcare professionals.

Speaking, Ogbonna noted that the strike was the last resort of the union following a failure of the federal government to meet its demands after an extended 30-day ultimatum that ended on March 6, 2017.

He further decried that the government was yet to implement a 2009 Memorandum of Understanding wherein the issues were contained, noting that NUAHP demanded implementable circulars and not MOUs anymore.

Among other demands, the union also decried skipping of COHESS 10 and payment of arrears in compliance with National Industrial Court of Nigeria judgement of July 22, 2013, adjustment of the CONHESS salary structure since 2014, appointment of consultants and payment of specialist allowance, residency training for other health professionals and implementation of National Health Act.

While noting that the strike was bound to impose hardship on Nigerians, especially Nigerians who could not afford to seek health care abroad or pay for private hospitals, Ogbonna pointed out that all its demands must be met before the strike would be called off.

“The union declares this nationwide indefinite strike today, the 6th of March 2017. All tertiary health institutions, federal medical centers, state-owned institutions with similar problems are directed to commence this strike immediately. We regret any inconveniences or avoidable sufferings and deaths that may arise as a result of this action.”

“The union had waited patiently and had shown enough restraints and had exhausted all other industrial means because of the poor Nigerian masses who will suffer when we withdraw our services from the health facilities nationwide. We have been pushed to the wall and this strike is inevitable. The Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Health are to blame. Therefore, members are enjoined to be on red alert for further directives” Ogbonna said.

“The MOU reached with the government on 20th August 2013 has not been implemented till date. The union sees this development as an act of negligence on the part of the federal ministry of health to address our issues. For the benefit of doubt, the issues under contention had been on since 2009 after the union had reached a collectively bargained agreement with the government,” Ogbonna added.