The Nation Newspaper

Tag: University of Abuja Teaching Hospital

  • Pain as JOHESU strike lingers

    Patients groan as the industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada lasts, report OLUGBENGA ADANIKIN and IBRAHIM AZEEZ 

    Medical services at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada have been grounded following the indefinite strike action by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) in the health institution.

    Women, children and the elderly suffered severely due to the strike action. Members of JOHESU went from ward to ward and department to department to ensure the strike was complied with. Meanwhile patients groaned in pain.

    Health workers, during the protest, blamed the Federal Government for not honouring its agreements with the labour union members on the several pacts signed with the union in September 2017.

    Speaking after a supervisory tour of the hospital, JOHESU Chapter Chairman, UATH, Steven Orichas said six months after entering into an agreement between the union and the federal government on the adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and increment of retirement age to 65 years, the government has done nothing till date.

    Orichas noted that members of the union are angry and tired of the irresponsiveness of the federal government, even after the union called off an initial strike.

    He added that the indefinite strike action in the facility was to ensure the workers fully comply with the instruction as directed by the union’s national body.

    According to him, the union had earlier issued a 21 days’ notice of industrial action to remind the government of its commitment, after which another 30 days’ ultimatum was issued on March 5, 2018 before the commencement of the indefinite strike on

    Orichas alleged that members of the Nigerian Medical Association that were part of that suit for the CONHESS 10 adjustment and payment of arrears have been paid illegally by the Ministry of Health and ignored those who got court judgement in their favour from the court regarding the payment.

    “The state right now to comply on an indefinite action is 100 per cent compliant. We have just gone round with members of JOHESU in UATH, we discovered that our people have complied 100 per cent.

    “This is because our people are angry and tired and the issues we are asking for are not new, this things as been on for to two three years. Because of this demands we embarked on an industrial action sometime last year that ended in September.

    “At the September meeting there was an agreement between us and the FG represented by the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Health. We had hoped that because of the agreement they have signed with the union, they were going to follow through and we decided to suspend the strike and return to work.

    “It is disheartening to note that after six months of the suspension of our last strike and still counting, the federal Government has not done anything tangible over the pending issues, especially on the flagship issue of CONHESS adjustment that is used by other health workers and payment of arrears of CONHESS 10 skipping.

    “Permit me to add that we have two CONHESS salary scales in the health sector, one for medical doctors and one for other health workers which includes; the nurse laboratory scientists, radiologist among others. In 2014 the FG adjusted the salary structure for the medical structures and we asked them to do same for others and also increase the retirement age from60 to 65 years. That had been the issue over the years,” he said.

    When asked about the accusation by the NMA that JOHESU is not registered and operating illegally, the chairman said, “I want to ask NMA to show me their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration and registration with the Trade Union and tell us who is truly registered. Until they are able to prove to us that they are a registered body they have no moral rights to call JOHESU and illegal body.

    He appealed to the general public, traditional leaders and opinion leaders to prevail on FG to honour the memorandum of terms of settlement it voluntarily entered into with its union.

     

  • Abuja Teaching Hospital to Fed Govt: honour deal with health workers

    Staff of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have urged the Federal Government not to default or dishonour its agreement with members of the union.

    UATH JOHESU chair, Comrade Stephen Oricha, in a petition made available to The Nation, in Abuja urged the federal government to disregard claims by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on the allegations that could make the government neglect its initial position that led to the suspension of the last JOHESU strike action.

    According to him, the NMA on October 1, 2017 allegedly petitioned the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige rejecting most of the terms of settlement reached between the federal government and JOHESU on Saturday 30th September, 2017.

    “We want to sincerely advise that the federal government should toe the path of honour and respect the terms of our agreement that led to the suspension of this industrial action. The consequences of reneging on account of threats by the NMA, would be better imagined than real,” he said.

    In a letter addressed to the Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, with a signature of Oricha and the UATH JOHESU Secretary, Comrade Paulina Usman, the union leaders identified main causes of controversies in the health sector. These included agitations for payment of long standing entitlements, recognition of professional autonomy, career progressions, preferential treatment among other welfare related issues.

    He highlighted the consistent discrimination between the resident medical doctors and health workers, drawing attention to the fact that both health officials passed through the university, yet prominence is being given to one group without considering the other.

    It could be recalled that on 4th September, 2017 the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on a strike action followed by the JOHESU on 21st September.

    He blamed successful administrations especially under the Federal Ministry of Health for refusing to admit the fact that the resident doctors cannot solely provide needed medical services but with strong supports from the health workers, thus working as a team to deliver health care services.

    He listed the purported low level workers to include Pharmacists, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Health Information Officers, Optometrists, Nutritionists/Dieticians, Administrative and Finance Officers, Dental Therapists/Technologists and every other worker except Medical Doctors.

    “Under past leadership at different levels of government and especially at the supervising ministry (Ministry of Health), a deaf ear was consistently turned to our attempts to argue that health sector is an amalgam of many equally important stake holders in the business of promotion of health, prevention of illness, care of the sick and rehabilitation,” Oricha said, adding that, “Compared to a Pharmacist/Medical Laboratory Scientist who joins the public service at CONHESS 09 which is equivalent to Grade level 10, a Medical Officer enters into the same service at CONMESS 02 equivalent to CONHESS 11, Grade level 12.

    “A newly appointed consultant after 5 to 6 years of post MBBS training, enters into the service at CONMESS 5/4 equivalent to CONHESS 13, Grade level 15. Assuming the Pharmacist/Laboratory Scientist gets promotion at regular intervals of three years, he or she would have spent at least nine (9) and twenty (20) years in service respectively before catching up with a newly recruited Medical Officer and a Consultant at their points of entry into the service; not minding all relevant degrees, post graduate degrees and experiences such officer may have acquired,” he added.

    However, the union lauded the new administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, for its effort to promoting rule of law that guarantee justice, equity and fairness to all in the health industry.

    He said since government resolution on the last strike action by JOHESU is being considered, there are rising concerns due to a letter allegedly written by the NMA to disregard the health workers demands.

    “While we don’t intend joining issues with NMA, sweeping the issues they raised under the carpet, will flame up their folly, mislead the unsuspecting members of the public and further deepen the crisis that already existed,” he said.

    He cited an instance that between 2009 and 2014, members of NMA enjoyed inflated salary review to the exclusion of others that made up JOHESU, mentioning circulars reference numbers, “SWC/S/04/S.410/vol.II/349 dated 8th December, 2009 and SWC/S/04/S.176/vol.II/466 dated 3rd January, 2014.”

    The union further advised the federal government to disregard the petition written to it by the NMA, asking the government to forfeit the agreement reached. He attributed this to hatred and envy from the resident doctors.

     

  • UATH, national hospital  joins JOHESU strike action

    UATH, national hospital  joins JOHESU strike action

    The Chairman, National Association of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Steve Oricha has said the union is in solidarity with the indefinite strike action code named ‘operation alligator bite.’

    He said during the protest, on Thursday, at the hospital in Abuja that the protest was in compliance with directive issued by the national body to commence nationwide indefinite strike action.

    Oricha said a 30-day notice was earlier given to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health, followed by another seven days without any response.

    He noted that until the federal government honours the agreement, which the union had been demanding, the protest will continue.

    According to him, JOHESU demanded for a review in salary structure, promotion and most importantly for the federal government to honour a National Industrial Court judgment on irregular promotion method among other 19 demands.

    He argued that since 2010 when the judgment was made, the federal ministry of health has refused comply.

    His words: “There are almost 23 demands by the national Johesu. It includes the payment of arrears, adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), promotion of our colleagues that are due to be promoted to directorship. It also include, recognizing our members who have risen to that peak of their careers as consultant.

    “We want government to also replicate the residency training and other interventions in other segment of the health sector in our union. For instance, we both graduated from the same university, spent the same five years. We got employed at the same time but as I was employed, government gave me CONHESS 8 but a medical doctor is given CONHESS 13. Why is that disparity?”

    He argued that the federal government would thereafter train the medical doctors on through what he described as residency training for five years, adding that upon arrival, the doctors are promoted.

    “No other categories in the health sector have the same privilege. The federal government also sends house officers to various universities and teaching hospitals for internships leaving other professionals to go scout themselves, meanwhile the health workers offers the same services to the people,” he added.

    Also, at  the National Hospital, Abuja health workers  pushed  home their demands, as  nurses staged a rally.

    The rally, which in collaboration with other health workers was held at the hospital premises, thereby disrupting activities.

    They were joined by the FCT Chairperson, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Deborah Yusuf  and the National Chairman, Federal Health Institutions Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Wale Olatunde, and some members of their executives.

    Terver Upu, the chairman of both JOHESU, and the  National Association of Nigerian Nurses, National Hospital Branch said nurses at the hospital has stopped clinical services in compliance  with national directives.

    He said that infrastructural decay, lack of drugs and equipment in hospitals, injustice to nurses and denial or remuneration and arrears was the reason they embarked on the industrial action.

    Comrade Deborah Yusuf, Federal Capital Territory Chairperson, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, said that nurses and other helath professionals under JOHESU have withdrawn their services indefinitely in all federal health institutions in the FCT and nationwide, adding  “We suspended the same  strike, two years back but  nothing has been done to address it till now, even after series of meeting with them. We have been patient enough.”

    Chairman of  the Federal Health Institutions sector of the  National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Wale Olatunde  said government’s denial of skipping for nurses and  owing them arrears was not fair when it allows same for even students and other professionals.

    Nurses in the Federal health facilities were  directed to join strike action after  a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Tuesday, where the leadrship of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) threw it’s weight behind  JOHESU and directed it members to join the indefinite strike action by today’s  midnight  20th of September 2017.

    JOHESU has issued an ultimatum to embark on strike action starting from midnight today should the government fails to address it’s demand.

    NANNM who warned of imminent shutdown of the health facilities across the country, also directed nurse at the states and Local government to join the strike one week after.

    Briefing Journalists in Abuja, President of the union, Abdrafiu Adeniji said “Finally, it should be noted that the continuous peace and harmony in the health sector can no longer be guaranteed if the Federal Government fails to abide by the various agreements reached since 2012 for the betterment of Nursing Profession and the Health Sector in general.

    Therefore, all Nurses and Midwives in all Federal health Institutions are hereby directed to join other JOHESU members to proceed on an indefinite strike action from midnight of Wednesday, 20th of September 2017.”

    The union listed some of it’s demand to include: “Chronic shortage of  both general and specialist manpower in our various institutions  Inadequate provision of medical consumables  and services in an attempt to promote PPP for personal and selfish reasons
    Stagnation/Redesignation/Demotion of our members contrary to 2012 & 2014 NIC Judgments on career progression  and skipping
    Stoppage/Non-Restoration of payment of Teaching Allowance to our deserving members on CONHESS 7&8 despite enabling circular
    Non-Payment of arrears owed from 2011 till date in most hospitals;

    Non-Payment of uniform allowance owed from 2008 till date in some hospitals;

    Non –payment of arrears of Relativity Allowance to our deserving members; and non deduction and non-remittance of union dues by some hospital managements.”

  • Meningitis: UNICEF donates drugs to Abuja

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 1,000 doses of drugs to FCT Primary Health Care Development Board for the treatment of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in Abuja.

    The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
    He explained that the drugs had been distributed to all General Hospitals and Teaching Hospital in the territory.
    According to him, World Health Organisation (WHO) also donated three stereotyping machines to carry out tests of CSM in FCT.
    He told NAN that those machines were distributed to Maitama General Hospital, Jabi Medical Centre and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
    The secretary urged people living in Abuja to desist from self medication and report when they notice any sign of meningitis to the nearest hospitals.
    Mohammed said that so far six persons had died out of 10 suspected cases recorded in Abuja Municipal, Bwari and Kuje Area Councils.
    He said that he had exhausted the vaccines given to FCT but awaiting additional stocks from National Primary Health Care Development Agency for the continuation of Immunisation against meningitis.
    He said that his board had carried out immunisation in all the 22 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Abuja because of their vulnerability to the disease.
    The secretary enjoined residents of FCT not to panic, saying that the government was committed to tackling the spread of CSM in Abuja.

  • Expert says 20 percent of new mothers experience depression

    Mrs Ijeoma Laluwoye, a clinical psychologist, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, on Tuesday, said 20 per cent of new mothers usually experience depressive disorders.

    She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that there were various forms of depression a woman might experience during and after pregnancy.

    She said one of such was pre-natal depression; a form of clinical depression that could affect a woman during pregnancy, and could lead to postpartum depression if not properly handled.

    Laluwoye explained that the symptoms of pre-natal depression include crying, sleep disorders and change in eating habits.

    According to her, some women often assume it is normal pregnancy symptoms that will go away with time, but if left untreated, can result in preterm delivery or low weight babies.

    She said pre-natal depression was often mistaken for baby blues, but that it was completely different.

    The psychologist explained that baby blues usually occurred between the third and tenth day after delivery due to the changes in hormones, following child birth.

    She said such women usually exhibited traits of irritability, frustration and they often cry.

    She noted that those feelings, however, disappeared within few days without any professional intervention.

    Laluwoye further explained that postpartum depression, which occurred after child birth, was associated with persistent sadness, fatigue, feeling of inadequacy, intense worries over the baby, family or activities, headaches and heart palpitations.

    Symptoms of postpartum depression, she said, often persisted for more than two weeks.

    She, however, said women who experienced the two symptoms might be inhibited by denial, shame or fear of disapproval in disclosing the symptoms.

    “Women who experience any form of depression during and after pregnancy should be open about it and seek medical help as there is absolutely nothing shameful about it.

    “Family members who notice these symptoms should help by being understanding, supportive and helping the woman get medical help, rather than criticising and comparing the woman with other women who do not experience such.

    “Women who experience such symptoms should never be ashamed or make you feel you are a bad mother,’’ she said.