Nigeria’s resident doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have resolved to commence an indefinite strike from Monday, the 15th of June, 2020.
Aliyu Sokomba, the association’s president made the position of the doctors known in a letter with reference number 2020/070620/246.
Doctors on emergency duties as well those attending to covid19 patients are expected to join the industrial action.
Part of the press release reads:
“No service of any kind, be it emergency, care at covid19 treatment centres shall be exempted and members, including all resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of principal medical officer and house officers are expected to be part of the strike.
“Consequent upon the 14 days ultimatum duly served the federal government for indefinite strike action, in accordance with the resolution of the Ordinary General Meeting of the Association on the 29th of May 2020, we hereby notify you that all resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of Principal Medical Officer (PMO) and House Officers across all the Federal and State Hospitals in Nigeria, shall be embarking on a total and indefinite strike action effective12:01am on Monday, 15th June, 2020.
The body however advised that “it is important that you make alternative arrangements for the care of the patients as the strike shall be total and indefinite.
“No service of any kind, be it emergency, care at #COVID19 isolation and treatment centres shall be exempted. We sympathise with the patients and the Nigerian populace,
The doctors gave reasons for their decision:
“For the purpose of clarity, the demands on which the ultimatum was predicated include the following: Provision of grossly inadequate Personal Protective Equipment for all healthcare workers, Immediate reversal of the illegal disengagement of all 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the payment of all salaries owed them, in keeping with provisions of the Medical Residency Training Act.
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