Federal Medical Centre Moves To End Doctors’ Strike

The Management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yenagoa has announced that it is working hard to end the industrial action declared by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD)
 

 

 

The ARD, led by Dr Nonso Okoye, had on November 15 commenced on a strike to press home their demand for the payment salary arrears of six months.

 

Okoye, who led the protesting doctors, describes the non-payment of salaries by federal government as insensitive.

 

The strike action had paralyzed medical activities at the FMC, causing hardship to residents of Bayelsa who depend largely on medical facilities at the hospital.

 

The Director of Administration at the hospital, Mr Inibaraye Ogoro, disclosed yesterday that the hospital was in talks with the federal government to end the strike and forestall other staff from joining the action.

 

According to him, the hospital administration is doing all it can to meet the demand of FMC workers in its efforts to end the strike.

 

Also speaking, the Head of Clinical Services, Dr Preye Numbere said the strike involved only Resident Doctors, adding that the hospital was still rendering health services.

 

He stated that consultants were making an effort to fill the gap, even as hospital administration was engaging management to pay the striking doctors their unpaid salaries as soon as possible.

 

Mr Oginike Lante, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), said that the salary arrears and outstanding shortfalls cut across all level of staff in the hospital.

 

Lante explained that members of his group and other unions within the hospital had notified hospital management that they would join the Resident Doctors if the situation was not addressed by the end of November.