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Tag: Health workers

  • Health workers begin indefinite strike

    Health workers begin indefinite strike

    Health workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) Tuesday embarked on an indefinite national strike over alleged unwillingness by the Federal Government to attend to their demands.

    The union had last week threatened industrial action, if the Federal Government fails to honour its demands.

    Mostly to be affected are medical laboratory, X-ray, physiotherapy, pharmacy, nursing services and others.

    A statement by NUAHP, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan branch yesterday reads: “This is to inform you that the NUAHP commenced an indefinite strike action to protest government’s unwillingness to attend to our demands after promising to do so immediately after the election.”

    The beginning of the strike coincided with that of Association of Resident Doctors, UCH branch, over unpaid skipping allowances by the management.

    The two unions’ action has further worsened the condition of medical services, leaving hundreds of helpless patients to suffer.

    NUAHP gave the Federal Government till Monday, this week, to address their demands, failure which it threatened to embark on indefinite strike.

    NUAHP immediate past President Felix Faniran and his successor, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, who jointly addressed a news conference at UCH last Tuesday, claimed that salary and allowances of their colleagues in the medical and dental fields have improved.

    But, they lamented that “the Federal Government turned deaf ears to NUAHP members’ demands”.

    The union’s demands include the implementation of the adjusted salary of its members as done for the medical association, payment of arrears on skipping of CONHESS 10 since year 2010 in compliance with a court judgment, promotion of its members from CONHESS 14 to 15 for those who have spent over 15 years on the grade and designate the most senior as director or head of department.

    Other demands include appointment of its members as chief medical directors of various tertiary hospitals, rather than medical practitioners alone.

    The union said the industrial action it embarked upon early this year was suspended following plea by President Goodluck Jonathan, promising to resolve all pending issues after the general election.

    The strike, the union noted, was suspended on February 2, after which a joint press conference was addressed by the Health Minister, Dr. Khaliru Alhasan, and JOHESU Chairman Ayuba Wabba.

    Efforts to see the president after the election, the union revealed, have been abortive.

    It stressed that its decision to go on strike to press home its demands was taken at its 6th triennial delegates’ conference, which took place last week in Uyo, where “a 7-day ultimatum was given to the Federal Government starting from May 11 to May 17, 2015”.

    Faniran lamented that its members were not allowed to reach the peak of their career despite many years spent in the university.

    “It will be unethical for us to welcome the incoming administration with a strike. But we would like to put it on record that the outgoing administration has failed to fulfill any of the agreement reached with us three years ago. This is the best time for us to go on strike because the last time we embarked on industrial action during the electioneering campaign, we were accused of being bought over by the opposition and we had to call it off to show respect for the office of Mr. President.

    “If we fail to continue from where we stopped, they will say we are sympathetic to the cause of the incoming administration,” he said.

    He warned heads of health institutions against privatising government health Institutions for their selfish gains, saying that would “make hospital services to be out of reach of commoners and staff retrenchment to satisfy their whims and caprices.”

     

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  • Health workers seek adequate funding for primary health care

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure better funding and equipment of the primary health care system in the country.

    Its immediate past President Ayuba Wabba spoke at the Ninth National Delegates Conference of MHWUN in Abuja.

    Wabba, who is also the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said it was imperative for the primary health care system, which accounts for 70 per cent of Nigeria’s health care requirement to be given the necessary attention in the area of funding and equipment.

    He said the infrastructure decay in the health sector should be tackled effectively through increased investment in health infrastructure, training and retraining in human resources, among others.

    He lamented over the report that Nigerians spend N1trillion on medical treatments abroad annually. This, he said, further confirmed the poor state of health care delivery in the country.

    “Perhaps it captures the state of decay of our health infrastructure that those who could afford it have been travelling out of the country at the slightest opportunity for medical treatment”, he said.

    He said the medical workers had over the years consistently advocated for the country to come to terms with the level of decay in the nation’s health care system. He also advised the Federal Government to ensure the extension of universal health coverage to rural communities through the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    Wabba, who praised the Federal Government for passing the National Health Bill into an Act, called for a holistic implementation of the Act through the establishment of Local Government Primary Health Care Authority and the State Health Care Development authorities across the country.

    He said: “We have over the years consistently advocated that for us, as a country, to come to terms with the level of decay in our healthcare system, we need to go back to the basics and prioritise investment in health infrastructure, training and retraining of human resources and strive to attain set targets in the sector.

    “For us in the union, it is important that as articulated in the National Health Policy Document, that primary healthcare which accounts for 70 per cent of the healthcare requirements of all Nigerians is adequately funded, properly equipped and staffed with trained professionals…”

    He said after more than six years, the union is happy that the National Health Bill, which suffered many hiccups, has been finally signed into law by the President recently.

    “It is our hope that with the law now in place, the incoming government will develop the will to implement the provisions of the Act,” he said.

  • Health workers strike: Resident doctors allege attack

    It was sheer luck for many doctors, especially Resident Doctors (RD), who were on duty last week, as members of Joint Health Staff Union (JOHESU) allegedly stormed the premises of Gwarinpa General Hospital, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and unleashed anger at health officials at the premises.

    It was expected that the hospital would be deserted since the health workers union had been on strike.

    ýThe FCT President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Dr Isaac Akerele, alleged a senior doctor was unlucky as she was terribly manhandled.

    According to him, the attackers broke down all entrance to the main block including the laboratory and caused panic that led to intensive care resuscitation of some patients.

    He said though, the reason for JOHESU action was not stated but apparently angered because some doctors have been successfully attending to patients while the union was on strike.

    However, Akerele described the act as a ‘barbaric behaviour totally condemnable, unacceptable and a fatal error.’

    He accused that the group was led by one Mr. Shuaib Onucheyo, a Laboratory Technician who work with Nyanya General Hospital.

    His words: “This group came to the Gwarimpa General Hospital with all manners of weapons including firearms that were used to shoot tear canisters into the hospital. This attack left many including patients injured with some in critical conditions at the intensive care unit especially a very senior colleague who was attending to preterm babies at the time of this attack.

    “We are calling on all authorities especially the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to urgently investigate the sources of weapons used.

    “We equally call on the FCT authorities to investigate and apply public service rules to protect our members on call. To this effect a letter has been to the FCT authorities. In this vein, I have directed our lawyers to institute a legal action against these persons and the body they represent for damages.

    “As law abiding professionals we do not want to take laws into our hands while we are sending strong warnings to any groups or persons or associations to stop harassing our members. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

  • Government’s Nonchalant Attitude To Health Workers’ Strike

    The general elections coming up next month seem to   have taken the attention of almost everybody away  from a fundamental issue; an issue that’s very germane, if not the most germane as far as human existence is concerned.

    For the past three and a half months now health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) have gone on an indefinite strike owing to non-implementation of the agreement the Federal government reached with them. This strike has paralised our health sector with dire consequences for us as people are dying daily for lack of medical attention.

    As pathetic as this situation is the government appears so unconcerned about the crisis in this critical sector as Mr. President and other key government officials are deeply sunk in the campaign for  the February general elections. For Mr. President and and his supporters all that matters to them now is the re-election of Jonathan as president. This is at the expense of this most important sector.

    But to say that only the government in power is guilty of this nonchalance appertaining to the health workers’ strike is to be economical with the truth. The opposition too is guilty as they are also not talking about the strike. The civil society groups too cannot be said to be showing the expected concern while at the level of the media little are we on the neck of the government to urgently address this situation. Everyone’s focus is on the coming elections.

    Much as the February general election is crucial to our survival as a nation, to neglect the health sector because of the election is, to me, the most preposterous thing to do especially during this period when all sorts of strange deadly diseases are springing up and spreading fast across the continent.

    The nonchalant attitude of the government to the health workers’ strike has further exposed the insensitive and irresponsible nature of the government of the day. Indisputably this ‘I don’t care attitude’ on the part of the government is completely detrimental to public health. No reasonable government will neglect a critical sector like health because of election. This is absolutely illogical and it portrays the government as grossly irresponsible.

    Axiomatically health is wealth. Let the government of president Jonathan know that it’s only those who are alive and healthy that can go out to vote on election day. A sick person who has been denied medical attention cannot go out to vote. Neither will his/her family members that have become psychologically depressed and unstable due to the ill health of their relation, and whose condition has been made worse by the strike action also think of voting.

    Honestly, I have never seen a democratically elected government that has been more irresponsible and nonchalant than that of president Jonathan. And I don’t have apology for saying this. When a government turns a deaf ear to the demand of its health workers to the extent that strike is allowed to become the instrument of negotiation and when the strike is further allowed to linger indefinitely then such a government is a wicked one that doesn’t deserve to be re-elected.

    For God’s sake why would a government has so much penchant for nonchalance? It’s quite worrisome! Jonathan’s administration has become notorious for neglecting the plight of members of this critical sector. And for me this is the height of irresponsibility. I continue to wonder what sorts of advice Mr. President receive from his advisers and whether he himself even takes time to talk to himself.

    This same ‘I don’t care attitude’ was shown to doctors’ strike last year. The government even went as far as sacking the resident doctors during that strike while it threatened fire and brimstone against the doctors. If not for much public outcry that forced the government to rescind that harsh decision it would have been a disaster writ large for our health sector.

    But that strike didn’t go without its accompanying damage as it resulted in many lives being lost while we also lost some of our doctors to foreign countries that are ever ready to hire Nigerian doctors for better treatment. One would therefore have expected a responsible government to avert another strike in the health sector soon after the doctors’ strike. This only goes to show the level of unseriousness of this government about the plight of the people especially as it concerns public health.

    Even if for political reason should government not address the demand of these health workers? This to-hell-with-them posturing shows how insensitive this government is. And this is a government that is seeking re-election! For the electorate that are members of JOHESU will they want this government to come back? Will they vote for a government that has turned a deaf ear to their demand?

    Of course answers to the above questions will be capital No. Thus President GEJ and his PDP should just forget the votes of this constituency unless he quickly addresses their demand. Even if he does, I doubt if they will still feel comfortable to give him their votes. I think he has given them enough maltreatment to lose the votes of that constituency.

    President GEJ must address the demand of JOHESU now without further delay. I have looked at their demand and I sincerely believe that they are not asking for too much. This avoidable strike has been allowed to linger for more than necessary. To avoid further loss of lives and total collapse of the health sector government must respond to health workers now, and positively too. Enough is enough to untimely deaths being recorded daily due to this strike.

  • Striking health workers storm Ibadan

    Striking health workers storm Ibadan

    •Strike goes on

    The industrial action by members of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and the  Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) yesterday took a new dimension as the striking  health workers  stormed Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    They vowed to continue the over three months strike, until the government responds to their demands.

    The workers, led by the National President of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Dr Taiwo Oyewumi of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, declared that President Goodluck Jonathan had been fed with lies on the strike.

    Adewumi warned the Federal Government not to withhold the salaries of the striking  workers, saying such method would aggravate the situation.

    Many lives, he said, have been lost, while all government hospitals have been deserted, leaving patients in agony.

    Addressing reporters at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Adewumi said the workers were aware of the plan to frustrate their efforts to press home their demands.

    He said the workers were eager to return to work but were yet to receive the Federal Government’s circular that would formalise the agreements reached.

    “We are aware of the effect of the strike. This is because hospital services require team work. No profession can stand on its own unless the teams work together as a unit.

    “The eight-point demands of JOHESU and Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals are still the same but it is disappointing that the government has refused to do the right thing.

    “Since the declaration, there have been meetings with government representatives. Six meetings were held between October 15 and December 24, last year.

    “The minister of Labour and Productivity, who presided over the December 22 meeting, promised to meet President Goodluck Jonathan to get approval leading to the issuance of circulars on the said matters.

    “Of the 10 circulars we are expecting, only one was issued which is the one concerning consultant status of other health professionals. We are ready to call off the strike but it seems the President is being fed with wrong information on the effect of the strike.”

    Adewumi said the workers have rejected some of the recommendations of the Yayale Ahmed Report because some of the issues raised were matters pending in court.

    “The Yayale Ahmed Report duplicated duties and that is one of the reasons why we rejected it. We rejected the office of the Surgeon General so there is no reason for the report to introduce or recommend it again.”

  • Health workers begin nationwide strike today

    Health workers begin nationwide strike today

    Health workers will today begin an indefinite strike over intractable leadership crisis in the sector.

    Their grievances include non-commencement of residency training programme for health professionals, non-implementation of new call duty allowance and non-payment of arrears of CONHESS 10 skipping, among others.

    Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) National President Felix Faniran spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on the planned action.

    NUAHP is an umbrella body of professionals, like physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, optometrists, dieticians, medical social workers, clinical psychologists, dental therapists, among others.

    Faniran said there was no going back on what he called “total and indefinite strike”.

    The union leader accused the Presidency, Minister for Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu and leaders of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) of allegedly fuelling and sustaining the crisis in the Health sector.

    He was particular about the sector’s problems since 2010.

  • NMA: Nigeria lacks facilities to protect health workers

    NMA: Nigeria lacks facilities to protect health workers

    The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said health workers are at greater risk than other people to contract the deadly Ebola virus.

    The NMA said hospital workers, despite the high risk they take in treating infected persons, still lack the protective equipment for themselves.

    The union assured that no case of Ebola virus has been recorded in the state.

    Its Chairman Dr. Muhammed Sani Ibrahim addressed in Kaduna at the weekend.

    He said: “We wish to state that health workers are at greater risk of contracting Ebola, if there are no protective equipment in hospitals. This can be a potential cause of spread to patients and their relatives within the hospital and to the community at large.”

    Dr Ibrahim hailed the proactive measures the state government had put in place to combat the disease.

    He said: “We wish to state categorically that as at today, there is no single confirmed case of Ebola in Kaduna State. There is heightened vigilance among the authorities, including the Kaduna State Government.

    “We wish to commend the proactive efforts of the Kaduna State Government as well as Anambra and other state governments that are fighting to prevent Ebola from reaching their states and their preparedness towards managing any possible case that may arise.

    “We, however, wish to encourage state governments to do more, especially at the lower levels, where information is most lacking.

    “The NMA wishes to commend the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government since the first case of Ebola was discovered in the country.

    “Thus, we call on the public to beware of rumours and get advice only from competent sources. The NMA is working with appropriate authorities to prevent Ebola from spreading in Nigeria.

    “Ebola rapidly kills about 50 to 90 per cent of the people that contract it. This means within a short time, it could kill up to nine to 10 people who contract it.”

  • Health workers withdraw services in Kogi

    Health workers withdraw services in Kogi

    THE Kogi State chapter of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has directed it members in the local government areas to withdraw their services, including participation in the immunisation programmes and primary health care activities. The union, in a notice of withdrawal of service signed by Comrades Onuh Edoka and Rose Momoh, chairman and secretary respectively, said the decision of the State Executive Council of the union to stop participating in activities at the local government level following alleged refusal of the council chairmen to respect an agreement reached on the implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structures (CONHSS) for health workers. It said the decision was press for the implementation of CONHESS as agreed to “on June 19th, 2014.” It, however, said that Idah, Igalamela,Bassa and Okene which have complied with the payment are exempted from the resolution of the state SEC to withdraw its services.

  • Ebola: FG introduces life insurance for health workers

    Ebola: FG introduces life insurance for health workers

    The Federal Government has instituted life insurance policy for health workers attending to Ebola Virus patients.

    Besides, outbound passengers would be screened before leaving the country

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, announced these during a meeting with foreign missions in the country Thursday.

    He assured that these will start in the coming week as efforts are now geared towards putting everything in place.

    He said, ““we are facing some challenges because we need to encourage workers especially when they hear that some doctors and nurses are dying even now in Nigeria, a nurse has died. It has now become increasingly difficult to convince health workers to attend to these patients but we have to and we are making effort to get people.

    “We have also improved their confidence level, what we have decided is that all the people taking part even if they did not have insurance before, they must have insurance. This one is not indemnity for now alone, it is life insurance to protect them and their families so that in case anything happens to them, their families will not suffer double loss. So, that is mandatory and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for All federal workers and all the people we will recruit whether private, state or federal personnel are going to enjoy this insurance.”

    On the screening of outbound passengers, “I believe by next week, we will start, we are trying to get personnel in place, we have equipment but we need more personnel, it is not easy screening all the airports, so we are trying to fill that gap.

    “The kind of help we mean is for instance, if you have an airline that is flying from country A and it is their airline, we can say, ok, we will give you some staff to do it with them.”

    On the trial drug, which the government requested from the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Onyebuchi said he is still awaiting response on that.

     

  • Ebola: Ogun puts health workers on red alert

    Ebola: Ogun puts health workers on red alert

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has put health officials in the border areas of the state on red alert to forestall the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

    He urged to doctors to stop the nationwide strike embarked upon by members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) about a month ago.

    Amosun, who was speaking at the Annual General Meeting of NMA, Ogun State Chapter in Abeokuta yesterday, lamented the rate at which human lives were being lost due to the strike.

    “We are terribly exposed because we have numerous border towns in our state. All the health officials and other government agents in border areas have been put on red alert to work assiduously to curtail the infiltration of the deadly Ebola virus.

    “It is true that the environment is not the way our doctors want but I want to appeal to them to try as much as possible to avoid strike because their service is more of service to humanity.

    “I’m happy to know that this strike is not about your remuneration but clamour for facilities that will enhance your performance. Let’s endeavour to strike a balance on issues that brought about this strike for the sake of the lives we are losing daily nationwide,” he said.