The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) chapter, Idi-Araba, on Monday resolved to continue with its indefinite strike as patients decried the action.
The president of the association, Dr Akinwunmi Afolabi, stated this in Lagos.
He said that the doctors would not suspend their action which commenced on Friday.
At the hospital, only the resident doctors were not working, while other categories of health workers were seen rendering skeletal services.
Two patients expressed their disappointment with the doctors’ action and urged them to resume work in order to save lives.
“The strike will continue until the management meets up the association’s demands.
“Our challenges include: epileptic power supply leading to cancellation of surgeries and procedures to the detriment of patients and extreme discomfort to the doctors and patients during consultations.
“Epileptic water supply with attendant risk of infection spreading in the hospital and poor working environment in most of our consulting rooms.
“Also, non-availability of medical consumables and working materials necessary for daily clinical activities.
“Poor state of call rooms and discriminatory taxation of our members should be addressed,’’ Afolabi said.
The president said that non-payment of December 2015 salary, outstanding arrears, relativity arrears, upgrade arrears and training sponsorship arrears to the doctors were some other demands.
“We are committed to the emergence of an efficient and sustainable health system for the benefit of all Nigerians,’’ he said.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of LUTH, Mr Kelechi Otuneme, said that the management was trying all its best to address the demands of the striking resident doctors.
“The management is aware of the strike but everything is under control because we have met the doctors.
“Our patients are being attended to, the strike has not stopped medical activities in the hospital,’’ Otuneme said.
A cancer patient, who pleaded anonymity, appealed to the doctors to resume work in order to save her life.
“I started my chemotherapy last week and suppose to continue today but nobody attended to me.
“I am appealing to the hospital management to heed the demands of the doctors and prevent further delay of medical treatment of patients,’’ she said.
Another patient, Mr Saidi Ajayi, said that he visited the hospital to get a medical report.
Ajayi said he was surprised on getting to the hospital to learn that the doctors were on strike.
