NARD strike paralyse activities in Bayelsa

Just as the doctors in Bayelsa State have down tools to join the nation-wide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors in the country, the situation has paralysed medical activities in the state.

The development has become a threat to patients, as many have been denied medical treatment and left groaning in pains.

The Public Relation Officer of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bernard Ekpedi regretted the situation as healthcare service nosedive in the hospital, while patients in critical conditions are in a more precarious state, as no treatment is administered.

He noted that the ambulance services has stopped to function, a worst is the state of the morgue, as staff maintaining, and ensuring good sanitary condition of the mortuary took advantage of the strike and stayed away from work.

The scenario, without alternative solution could lead to epidemic, particularly since the hospital mortuary is within residential area in Yenagoa.

He noted that the maternal and infant care section has also joined in the strike, while several pregnant women are left with no midwives or doctor to attend to them, the situation has forced many who are financially buoyant to relocate their patients to private hospitals in the state.

Ekpedi, noted that sequel to the harsh economic reality, many prefer to seek medical treatment at the Federal Medical Centre because cost for treatment is within what they could afford, but with the strike action, such families now have their patients in precarious situation, as they lack the means to seek healthcare in private hospitals in the state.

To this end, Ekpedi called on the federal government to reach a truce with the resident doctors and settle the dispute in the interest of the citizenry, as it would halt avoidable death of patients in the various federal health institutions nation-wide.