Association of Resident Doctors, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane Enugu has embarked on an indefinite strike, threatening the state government’s efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
The strike action commenced a day after the state government paid April salary to all civil servants and additional 25% COVID-19 allowance to all health workers in the state.
In an official letter entitled, “Notice of Resumption Of Suspended Indefinite Withdrawal Of Services By The Association Of Resident Doctors, ESUT-TH Parklane” dated April 24th, 2020, signed by the president of the association, Doctor Chima Edoga and General Secretary, Doctor Chukwunonso Ofonere and sent to the Chief Medical Director, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, the association said that their action could have been avoided if Enugu State Government kept to the written approval and numerous re-assurances given to the Association.
They claimed that they have become endangered species in the face of very deadly diseases such as Lassa fever virus and Covid-19.
They disclosed that they were intially given verbal assurances that a written approval will be fully implemented in April, 2020 but were shocked that Enugu State Government reneged on the approval following payment of April 2020 salaries.
It could be recalled could be recalled that Enugu State Government Wednesday, April 23, 2020 paid the April salaries of all public servants in the state. It also paid COVID-19 allowance for all health workers in the state, which represents 25% of their basic salaries.
In a statement, Secretary to the State Government. Prof. Simon Ortuanya, said that “the state government paid additionally COVID-19 allowance for all health workers in the state, which represents 25% of their basic salaries as recently approved by the State Executive Council (EXCO) as incentive”.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, has urged residents of the state to continue to observe personal hygiene, observe social distancing and tightens up their borders to avoid people infected with coronavirus coming into Enugu State to disrupt the peace being enjoyed “which is now coronavirus free”.
She gave the advice on Friday in a speech during the distribution of the COVID-19 palliative donated by the Ezeagu stakeholders both home and abroad to the indigents from all the communities of Ezeagu local government area of the State.
The Deputy Governor, who was represented by her Personal Assistant, Steve Anibeze, thanked the stakeholders for their kind donations.
She appealed to the local government palliative committee to ensure that the food items get to those that needed them.
Mrs Ezeilo prayed that the COVID-19 pandemic will soon end, urging everyone to stay safe.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Ezeagu Local Government, Chukwudi Ani, said that the deputy governor initiated the project.
He disclosed that the food items which included 45 big bags of beans, 600 cartons of noodles, 250 bags of 25 Kg rice, 400 bags of 10 Kg rice and tubers of yam were donated by Ezeagu stakeholders (home and abroad).
The chairman said that last Saturday, they shared some items including protective kits donated to the people of the area by their representatives at the National Assembly, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and Hon. Amadi.
The chairman added that as more items were donated, they will continue sharing to the less privileged to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and “help them especially in this lockdown, stay-at-home period”.
Ani noted that their target was 800 persons, 40 persons from each of the 20 wards of the local government.
He disclosed that the clergymen would be used to get the poor persons who will benefit from the gesture.
The chairman explained that their decision to work through the clergymen of the Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches is because they know the poor people, the poor people always come to them for help.
Highlighting other things they had done, the chairman said that they engaged in boundary monitoring to ensure that the land boarder lockdown was being enforced.
He thanked Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the deputy governor for their good governance and provision of palliatives to the indigent in the state, adding that they replicated their good gesture.
Speaking, the chairman of Ezeagu Palliative Committee, Rev Christian Anieke, Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Emene, Enugu, who was represented by a Director in his office, Fred Ozoilo, thanked the stakeholders for their donations.
He called on people to keep donating so that much people could be reached.
Anieke advised the people to keep to personal hygiene and social distancing.
He also urged the security men at the land borders to be diligent in their duty and shun collecting money from travellers to avoid allowing anyone with coronavirus into the state.
Others who spoke at the occasion were Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ezeagu Local Government and Rev. Father Chinedu Akubilo, who received the items on behalf of other clergymen.
