Resident doctors in Nigeria have today, June 15th commenced an indefinite strike action to press home their demand for better remunerations.
The doctors also demand improved working conditions and an overhaul of the nation’s underfunded infrastructure to meet the rising health care demands.
Today’s action was taken after a 2-week ultimatum given the government to meet their demands expired.
Read: Resident Doctors to Commence Total Indefinite Strike.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) However, warned that those attending to #COVID19 will continue for another 2 weeks. But, if the Association’s demands are not met, they will also join in strike.
Resident Doctors are fresh graduates from medical schools who are training as consultants. They are often the first line of doctors often assigned to emergency units.
According to the Association’s President, Aliyu Sokomba, “if the government fails to meet our minimum demands within 2 weeks, the resident doctors working in covid19 isolation centres will automatically join the strike.”
Among the doctors’ demands are:
- covid19 pay supplement
- life insurance for doctors
- more funding for training of doctors
In May 2020, Doctors and healthcare practitioners downed tools to protest harassment by the Nigerian Police when they commute to hospitals to attend to patients. The same harassment is also meted out to doctors on emergency duties.
Read:
Lagos Medical Doctors Begin Strike over Police Harrassment