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Tag: Lagos health workers

  • Lagos health workers embark on 3-day strike over salary adjustment

    Lagos health workers embark on 3-day strike over salary adjustment

    The coalition of health sector unions in Lagos state commenced a three-day warning strike on Wednesday, protesting the non-implementation of adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

    The unions involved include the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

    In an interview, the Secretary of NANNM, Oloruntoba Odumosu, revealed that the strike follows the expiration of an ultimatum issued by the unions. 

    The decision was finalized after an inconclusive meeting with state government officials on December 9, which ended in a deadlock.

    “The government officials couldn’t provide a clear timeline for the implementation of our demands, nor was there an approval from the governor for the payment,” Odumosu said.

    He explained that this feedback was relayed to the unions’ congress, which unanimously voted to proceed with the strike, citing the state government’s perceived lack of seriousness.

    Odumosu lamented that the issue has persisted for too long despite multiple attempts by the unions to resolve it amicably.

    “During our engagement with the Ministry of Establishments and Training on December 2, no clarity was provided on the computation method for the adjustment. Worse still, Lagos State does not operate the full CONHESS structure, and there was no definitive timeline for the payment,” he stated.

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    He further expressed dismay that doctors in the state had already received a 35% Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) adjustment in October 2024, while health workers under CONHESS continue to be sidelined.

    “This selective approach, which prioritises one segment of the health workforce over others, is divisive and demoralising. It undermines the collective morale of health professionals in Lagos State,” Odumosu said.

    The strike will affect all state-owned health facilities, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), general hospitals, and primary health centres (PHCs). 

    The affected workforce comprises a wide range of professionals, including:

    Nurses and midwives, pharmacists and physiotherapists, dieticians and radiographers, medical laboratory scientists, optometrists and dental therapists, medical physicists and clinical psychologists, health information managers and medical social workers.

    These unions collectively represent the backbone of healthcare delivery in the state, ensuring quality care for Lagos residents.

    State Secretary of NUAHP, Kamaldeen Kabiawu also criticised the government’s delayed implementation of the 25% CONHESS adjustment, especially after approving the 35% CONMESS adjustment for doctors.

    “This delay underscores the government’s indifference to the critical contributions of other health workers. The warning strike, scheduled from December 11 to December 13, is our last resort to demand equity and fairness in the implementation of the CONHESS adjustment,” Kabiawu said.

    The unions stressed that their demands are legitimate and essential for maintaining morale and ensuring the continued delivery of quality healthcare services.

    “This strike is a necessary step to press home our demands for fairness and equity,” Odumosu concluded.

    The Lagos State government has yet to issue an official response to the strike, leaving many residents concerned about potential disruptions to healthcare services during the three-day industrial action.

  • Lagos equips 40 health workers against maternal mortality

    Lagos equips 40 health workers against maternal mortality

    As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce maternal mortality, Lagos State Government has equipped 40 health care workers with advanced skills to manage childbirth complications during the critical third stage of labour.

    The training, which focused on life-saving interventions, was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOMLPforR).

    Held over three days in Ikeja, the training involved health care professionals from primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities across the state.

    The sessions combined theoretical lessons and practical demonstrations, aimed at strengthening participants’ ability to prevent and manage postpartum haemorrhage (excessive bleeding), a leading cause of maternal deaths in Nigeria.

    Director of Family Health and Nutrition at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folasade Oludara, stressed the significance of the training in addressing gaps in knowledge and practice. “Postpartum haemorrhage remains a major contributor to maternal mortality, both globally and locally,” she said.

    “This training provides health care workers with essential skills, including the use of uterotonic drugs such as oxytocin and misoprostol, to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.”

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    Participants were also introduced to innovative technique like delayed cord clamping, which reduces the risk of neonatal anaemia, and the use of non-pneumatic anti-shock garments (NASG), a life-saving device for stabilising women suffering from severe haemorrhage.

    “The NASG is crucial in emergency situations, especially in low-resource settings where access to blood products may be delayed.” Oludara added: “It buys time until definitive interventions such as blood transfusions can be administered.”

    A renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Yusuf Oshodi, said targeting postpartum haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy could reduce maternal deaths by as much as 40 per cent.

    “These are the two leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria. By training health care workers to effectively manage these conditions, we can reduce maternal deaths,” he said.

    Reproductive Health Coordinator at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Omoera, highlighted the need for continued investment in maternal health.

    “Maternal deaths are preventable if the right steps are taken. Low-cost, high-impact interventions such as Active Management of the Third Stage of Labour (AMTSL) have proved effective in reducing maternal mortality by up to 60 per cent,” she said.

    Omoera underscored the importance of scaling up capacity-building efforts.

    She said between 2019 and 2020, Ministry of Health had trained 160 health care workers, resulting in slight reduction in maternal deaths.

    She, however, said more things should be done to achieve progress.

    “Our goal is to ensure every health care facility in Lagos is equipped and staffed with health care workers, who have the skills to manage complications and prevent maternal deaths,” she said.

    Participants expressed their appreciation for the practical approach of the training, noting that the new skills would enable them to act promptly during emergencies and improve maternal outcomes in their facilities.

    The initiative is part of Lagos State’s broader commitment to strengthening maternal and child health services, and with support from international partners such as UNFPA, the state continues to make strides in reducing maternal mortality.