Reps appeal to doctors to call off strike

As the strike action embarked upon by members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) lingers, Chairman, House Committee on Health Institutions, Hon. Dr Pascal Obi, has appealed to the doctors to call off the ongoing strike action.

Hon Obi made the appeal while responding to questions from newsmen during an oversight visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos on Monday.

He stated that his committee is doing its best in collaboration with the executive arm to ensure a reasonable condition of service for medical professionals in the country.

While commenting on medical doctors seeking greener pastures outside the shores of the country, he said Nigeria will continue to produce medical professionals, noting that those travelling outside to practise are foreign exchange earners for the country.

“We have held several meetings with NARD and since the striking doctors have gone to court, there is nothing we can do any more until the matter is withdrawn because we cannot interfere with the court process. So, right now, we are handicapped.

“On the issue of medical doctors leaving the country for greener pasture outside the country, you know, there is a limit to what human beings can do. We have been doing our best in collaboration with the executive arm of government to make sure that there are reasonable conditions of service for medical professionals.

“But they found it difficult to make do with what is available. We cannot use a rope to hold and tie them. And you cannot do something for them to drag them home. But I am of the view that Nigeria will continue to produce more professionals as the year goes by and those outside the country are part of foreign exchange-earners.

“We can be producing medical doctors and exporting them outside the country. We should ensure we create a good working environment for those practising in the country so that the new ones we are producing will have a place to work.

“Nigeria has not employed all the medical consultants we have in this country, true or false? So, that is the thing, we will continue to do our best but as Nigerians, let us all learn to be good citizens and help the country.

“It is not only the health sector the country is taking care of, there are other sectors but we are giving priority to the health sector because we must be alive to attend to our responsibilities. The best time to embark on any project is when you are alive which is why we attached so much importance to it.

“So as we are appealing to the FG to do the needful, let us also appeal to our striking brothers and sisters to at least show some level of understanding now that it has become necessary to do that.”

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.