Lagos doctors resume after three-day warning strike

As the three-day warning strike embarked upon by doctors employed by the Lagos State Government under the umbrella body of the Medical Guild Lagos ends today, Thursday, services have since resumed across State-owned healthcare facilities affected by the exercise.

The leadership of the Medical Guild, on Saturday, announced the commencement of the warning strike action over alleged unilateral salary deductions from their July salary and the non-payment of 12 months’ arrears owed to honorary consultants under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

Subsequent to the doctors’ warning strike, nurses under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions Sector ((NANNM-FHI) have on Wednesday began a seven-day warning strike action.

The strike action follows the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on July 14 over long-standing unmet demands.

At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), healthcare services were grounded as patients were seen loitering around medical emergency with no medical personnel at hand to attend to their health needs.

Reacting to this development, Secretary, Medical Guild, Dr Akinade Adekunle, confirmed the end of the 3-day warning strike, assuring that healthcare services would resume Thursday.

He said, “Our warning strike action ends Thursday morning. We have resume services.”

Meanwhile, the Director of Administration, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Ms Omolola Fakeye, has described the situation at the medical facility as peaceful and calm.

In a chat exchange with the Nigerian Tribune, Fakeye, said medical personnel are essential services whose services cannot be hindered.

She said, “We are an Essential Service. When there is Strike and people get injured, they Come to the Hospital. When a Child is ready to be delivered, the BABY does not take Permission from the mother, the Baby just get set for delivery and the Hospital is 24/7 set! When Patient want to have a Medical or Surgery issue, he/she does Not Ask if the Hospital is Set. As long as the issue is Not against the Hospital Management and even if Against the Management, the Hospital would still be accessible to Nigerians even if at a reduced Scale.”

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE