Strike: Ensure continuous service, Health Minister directs medical directors

FOLLOWING the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has directed Medical Directors and Chief Medical Directors of Federal Government owned Hospitals to ensure that consultants and Youth Corps doctors as well as doctors on Internship are on duty to provide health services at all government hospitals in order to ensure there is no break in healthcare services to our people.

Adewole gave this directive on Monday while assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government Health Facilities will be open to render services to the people while the government continues to dialogue with the resident doctors to return to work. Arrangements are also on to make use of Armed forces, Police and Federal Road Safety Health Facilities

The Health Minister expressed optimism that the problem will be resolved soon also appealed to the National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) to suspend the strike action embarked upon in the interest of Nigerians who are in need of Medical Care.

Professor Adewole, who gave assurance of the Federal Government’s commitment to address all the issues in contention, said the government needed a little more time to address the issues.

Another round of meetings have been scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, September 6, 2017 and it is hoped that more progress would have been made in reaching a consensus in all the issues being discussed,” Adewole stated.

He further expressed the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC administration to promote industrial harmony in the health sector.