- The ongoing strike by the resident doctors in Nigeria has adversely affected the state of hospitals
- However, not all doctors are compliant as there is reportedly skeletal work going on in some institutions
- Some of these doctors allegedly are working as they need a means of sustenance
As the resident doctors in Nigeria are on strike, there is a directive from the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), that all its members avoid work totally.
However, journalists say there are skeletal operations by some doctors at various health institutions across the country.
According to Premium Times patients were seen in the wards with some resident doctors attending to them in some hospitals.
For example at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, it was patients were still being admitted with some medical staff going about their clinical duties including resident doctors.
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A nurse at the imaging unit who pleaded anonymity said some of the resident doctors have been attending to patients as they “have no choice because their consultants have mandated them to come to the hospital.”
“They cannot join their colleagues in the strike, most of them are been called back by their consultants and they cannot refuse them,” she said.
Also at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), on Tuesday, September 5, there was still some work going on.
A 70-year-old patient, Munkaila Shuaibu, said he was discharged on Tuesday after being admitted a few days ago.
“I was admitted on Sallah day. After spending a night at the emergency department, I was transferred to the male medical ward where I spent four days. The doctor said my health condition is stable. That is why he is discharging me,” he said.
Another patient, Muhammad Ahmad said he is still receiving treatment despite the strike.
He said: “Doctors have come this morning for routine ward round. They have checked those on admission. Nobody told me I will be discharged."
According to Premium Times, at the National Hospital and Wuse General Hospital in Abuja some of the resident doctors still working.
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”As you can see, this a large hospital and there are so many patients to attend to. We can’t just leave them stranded. All we are asking is for the federal government to meet our demands. Once this done, all activities go back to normal.
”We are however working undercover now because NARD must not know that some of us are still working. We are not working under the management’s order, it is a self-decision. We are just doing some skeletal work in here,” a resident doctor said.
A meeting between the NARD executives and the health and labour ministries has been fixed for Wednesday, September 6.
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NAIJ.com earlier reported that the doctors resolved to proceed on the strike after a meeting of the national leadership that ended in the early hours of Monday, September 4.
The president of NARD, Onyebueze John said: “Rising from our NEC meeting, which started by 7pm yesterday and ended 3am today. NARD has resolved to reject the promissory offer from Government, and proceed on total and indefinite strike action until all items in her demand list for strike action are resolved by government."
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