By Elo Edremoda, Warri
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) Oghara, has suspended its planned industrial action over the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in states across Nigeria.
In a communiqué at the end of an expanded ARD executive council meeting, the doctors stated that the strike action was reviewed to attend to the health needs of Nigerians, particularly Deltans, in this challenging period.
It added that the decision also stemmed from the directive of the national President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), their parent body.
The communiqué, a copy of which was made available to The Nation, was signed by the association’s President Dr. Isoje Daniel Omamuzo; General Secretary, Dr. Rukevwe Odukuye and its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Harrison Adja.
The doctors had concluded plans of going on strike over the welfare of its members, with issues ranging from failure of DELSUTH management and Delta state government to refund examinations and bench fees owed members.
The Nation reports DELSUTH houses one of the four isolation centres established by the State Government to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The ARD vowed to support government efforts to combat the spread of the disease in the state.
However, it noted that the suspension of the industrial action was temporal, as the reasons for the proposed strike had not been met by the state government and the management of the teaching hospital.
“The Association of Resident Doctors of DELSUTH being a union of repute with huge sense of commitment to a healthy community, decided to sacrifice the pursuit of the interest of her members owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and regard for the intervention of our parent body, The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), by reviewing her earlier notice of industrial dispute to the management of DELSUTH and the Delta State Government in a communiqué dated 12th March, 2020.
“However, we are sensitive to the global health challenge brought upon us by the COVID-19 pandemic and have decided to step down our proposed industrial action for the interest of the common good,” the communiqué stated.
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Decrying the lack of life insurance package or compensatory measures for medical workers who are at the forefront of battling the spread of the disease, the statement appealed to well meaning Nigerians to prevail on DELSUTH management and the state government to ensure all their needs are met.
The resident doctors observed that “there is inadequacy of the recommended N95 facemask and PPEs needed as precautionary protocols against the disease.”
Parts of the association’s demands, include “that DELSUTH management should shutdown all outpatient clinics pending when a decline is recorded in the incident cases of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
“Adequate provision of the PPEs, recommended face masks, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and infra-red thermometers at all patient entry points to the hospital. That all health workers listed for the management of this disease be granted life insurance package with adequate compensatory measures in event of any calamity befalling any of them.
“That DELSUTH management/Delta State Government should pay up all outstanding updates, examinations and bench fees refunds with all components including transportation and accommodation as obtained in the Public Service Rules, Residency Training Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other similar Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria without further delay, having shown magnanimity by extending multiple ultimata on this particular demand.
“Finally, in view of the above outlined issues affecting our members, we demand that DELSUTH management/Delta State Government reciprocate our magnanimity by resolving all the aforementioned challenges militating against proper residency training in DELSUTH within this graceful period to avert immediate withdrawal of our services without prior notice at the recovery from the global COVID-19 pandemic.”
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