The Minister of Health, Prof . Isaac Adewole , has directed chief medical directors and medical directors of federal hospitals to immediately engage the services of locum doctors to augment the services of consultants , National Youth Service Corps doctors and medical doctors on internship pending the resolution of the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors .
The order was contained in a circular with Ref . No . C . 3132 /Vol. V /116 , addressed to all CMDs/MDs of federal tertiary health institutions across the country .
Adewole said the move became imperative in order to reduce the increased workload of consultants , NYSC doctors and house officers , thereby preventing reduction in quality of service delivery to patients .
The minister had earlier approved the use of armed forces , police and the Federal Road Safety Corps in health facilities to ensure the continuous delivery of health care services across the country .
He said , “ Consultants are to work overtime as we continue negotiations with the National Association of Resident Doctors today . No one should die because our colleagues are on strike . ”
Meanwhile , doctors in the employ of the Federal Capital Development Authority , Abuja , have refused to join the strike .
One of our correspondent learnt that activities at all hospitals under the management of the FCDA , such as the Gwarinpa General Hospital , Wuse District Hospital , Maitama District Hospital , Asokoro District Hospital , Kuje General Hospital , Kubwa , Karu General Hospital , Rubochy General Hospital , Bwari General Hospital and Abaji General Hospital went on smoothly .
However , the three medical facilities owned by the Federal Government in Abuja – Federal Medical Centre , Jabi ; National Hospital and Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital – were affected by the industrial action .
It was learnt that NARD was planning to sanction all state chapters that refused to join the strike .
Speaking with one of our correspondent on the telephone , the Secretary -General , NARD , FCT Chapter , Dr . Roland Aigbovo , said the FCT doctors refused to join the strike because they were already having talks with the FCDA .
Aigbovo said the strike could be considered as an act of bad faith, adding that the chapter was ready to face any punishment that might come from its parent body .
He said , “ We refused to join because there are some issues we are trying to address locally and we have written a letter of appeal to our national body informing them that we want to be exempted from the strike . We feel that going on strike would undermine the understanding we have with our management towards addressing the issue .
“ We are willing to deal with the consequences of not joining the strike . Going on strike now would mean that we are not committed to the negotiations with our management . ”
Resident doctors , the first line of medical professionals who attend to patients in teaching and some general hospitals , downed tools nationwide to protest salary shortfalls and cuts .
Consultants were the only doctors on duty at the Federal Medical Centre , Bida , Niger State , as NARD members at the tertiary hospital joined the nationwide strike .
The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Niger State chapter , Dr. Mustapha Yahaya , disclosed that negotiations were ongoing between the Federal Government and NARD executives , adding that an agreement was likely to be reached this week .
He said , “ The strike was called by NARD , an affiliate of NMA . We have consultants and doctors that are working for the state government ; they are not on strike .
“ Their issues are being addressed by the Federal Government . If you go round the Minna General Hospital and the IBB Specialist Hospital , you will see that doctors are on ground doing their jobs . ”
Doctors in Anambra on Tuesday refused to join the nationwide strike .
At the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital , Awka , doctors were seen at their duty posts attending to patients.
When one of our correspondent visited the hospital , patients were seen receiving medical attention.
Speaking with one of our correspondents , a nurse attached to Consulting Room 1 , who simply identified herself as Kasie , said the resident doctors were on duty .
She said , “ There is no strike in this hospital . As you can see , the doctors are in their consultation rooms attending to patients. ”
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital , Dr Basil Nwankwo , told one of our correspondent that Anambra State had its peculiar circumstance.
“ That is the reason why we are not joining the strike , ” Nwonkwo stated.
However , at the General Hospital in Onitsha , resident doctors were not on duty .
Though patients were seen at the OPD department , there were no doctors on duty to attend to them.
Mrs. Omasi, who spoke with our correspondent at about 3 pm , said she had been waiting with her sick mother at the hospital since 10 am only to be told that doctors were on strike .
She said she could not afford the high cost of private hospitals in the area .
“ I ’ m a petty trader ; I cannot afford to take my diabetic mother to any of the private hospitals around here, ” she stated.
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