Yenagoa — Patients in public hospitals in Bayelsa State are groaning under the biting effects of the nation-wide strike embarked by medical doctors under the aegis of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
The NMA had through its President, Kayode Obembe, directed doctors to down tools indefinitely following the expiration of a two week-ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its 24-point demand.
These include the demand to reserve the position of Chief Medical Director of Hospitals for medical doctors, appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation as well as increase in duty, hazard and specialist allowances.
At the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Yenagoa, doctors were not on their duty posts as only consultants provided skeletal services when our correspondent visited on Wedneday.
It was gathered that only patients with accident and emergency cases were admitted while the out-patient unit was virtually empty as only nurses and other auxiliary personnel were sighted.
At the orthopaeidic ward, the situation was the same with only one patient,Tikere Tonye, seen preparing to be transferred to a private clinic by her family.
"The strike is affecting me badly.I was admitted two weeks ago with a broken leg.Now, there is no doctor to attend to me", she lamented.
"We are now going to a private clinic where we will spend more money.Let them settle the doctors so that they can treat us she", stated.
It was observed that the surgical department had a little more activity with some patients praying that the impasse was resolved urgently.
A patient, Mark Nnadozie, who had just been operated upon, said the earlier the industrial disharmony was resolved, the better for the country.
"I want the government to help settle them so that they can come here and give us our medicine and injections", he said.
In an interview, the head of clinical services at the FMC, Yenagoa, Dennis Alagoa, explained that management was doing its best to cushion the effect of the strike action by the doctors.
SOURCE; DAILY INDEPENDENT
http://allafrica.com/stories/201407030041.html
No comments:
Post a Comment