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Hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday were forced to discharge patients following a total, nation-wide strike action embarked upon by members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), both at the state and local government levels.
A visit to Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja showed patients were hurriedly being discharged since they could not be attended to.
BusinessDAY found that skeletal services were, however, being offered while few remaining patients had to wait endlessly before they were attended to.
One of the patients who spoke to Businessday at the hospital said, but did not want her name mentioned, said she had been waiting for over four hours but was yet to any medical attention. According to her, eventhough she was asked to wait, she was seriously considering moving over to a private hospital despite the huge bills.
The Abuja National Hospital was seen deserted, BusinessDay saw just a child at the pediatrics ward, as all the other patients had been discharge.
At the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, people were seen at the lobby but medical activities were not fully functional. Many departments were closed due to the striking union. It was also observed that patients had been discharged, while the critical ones were referred to other health facilities since there were no health workers to assist the doctors.
JOHESU comprises Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU).
It would be recalled that on the April, 18, 2018, the Union declared an indefinite nationwide strike.
JOHESU, National Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah, while briefing journalists in Abuja, said the strike action which was earlier limited to the Tertiary Health Institutions, would now be total, as he directed States and Local Government health workers to join the nationwide strike action beginning from midnight of Wednesday, May 9, 2018.
Meanwhile, the negotiation between the Federal Government and the union members on Wednesday was deadlocked and it was learnt that they would reconvene, Thursday evening.
LAIDE AKINBOADE-ORIERE
