The Secretary-General of the Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD) ABSUTH chapter, Dr Nnamdi Erondu has said that Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia chapter at their Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) decided to go on general strike in solidarity with health workers owed by Abia State government. News Echo reports that ABSUTH workers began an indefinite strike in November 2021 following 22 Months’ salary arrears Abia government owed them then which may have accumulated to 26 months this April 2022.
There is now tension in the state that all the sick people within hospitals may have to seek medical attention in Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers State should Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu fails to pay striking doctors.
The ARD Secretary-General said that the doctors demanded 80 per cent of their salary arrears if they must resume work.
He added that Abia’s health workers affected by the state government’s salary debt include Health Management Board (HMB) workers owed 12 Months arrears and ABSUTH workers owed 26 Months arrears.
Erondu said that the strike will commence if Gov Okezie Ikpeazu fails to pay them 80 per cent of the 26 months’ salary arrears owed them which they are demanding.
According to him, “If he fails to pay us as we are demanding, It means there will be a total shutdown of medical services in Abia.
“A task force will be set up and all private medical practitioners, Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Umuahia and all other hospitals will also be shut down.
“The governor should pay to avert the catastrophe the strike will bring. He is aware and we have been patient and taken all manner of treatment but this time, we need our money.
If he does not give us what to us is a fair bargain, we will shut down all the health facilities.”
News Echo reports that since ABSUTH, the biggest hospital in the state went on strike, doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia have been overwhelmed by an excessive number of patients trooping into the hospital.
This newspaper also gathered that as of Friday last week, many patients who came to FMC Umuahia were never attended to, while the majority were even asked to go because there were not enough doctors to attend to them.
With the looming solidarity strike which will affect both FMC Umuahia and some other hospitals, Abia State is likely going to witness a precarious situation where sick people will have to seek medical attention in neighbouring states.
Elder Simon Ekenta said he finds it difficult to understand why Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration will choose to be insensitive to the plight of doctors and health workers under his payroll.
He said, “I don’t understand this government at all. Why are they looking for a way to increase the number of corpses in the mortuaries? What is wrong with our leaders here? If this strike affects FMC, do you know that Abia is finished?
“How many persons can afford to travel to Owerri, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Enugu for medical attention? Why can’t this Governor forget about endorsing his successor for 2023 and do something meaningful for once with his position before it is too late?
“Honestly, I am ashamed of what is happening in Abia State. All of them are only interested in 2023. They’ve forgotten how Covid-19 stopped them from travelling abroad for medical attention. It’s obvious they learnt nothing. They’re still joking with medical practitioners and empowering touts. What a state.”
Dr Joe Osuji, Abia Health Commissioner has disclosed that the Abia government’s discussion with Abia State University Teaching Hospital, (ABSUTH) workers will be concluded before April ends to enable them to return to work.
The Health Commissioner went further to note that until Abia State University Teaching Hospital, (ABSUTH) workers resume work, Federal Medical Center (FMC), Umuahia will be overflowing with people.
Osuji made the above comment while responding to claims from some FMC patients that the Abia government’s insensitivity is the reason FMC doctors are sending them away because of too many patients they now handle daily.
He said that the state government was in a discussion with ABSUTH workers and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) which has intervened in the matter to end the strike.
The commissioner, however, said he was not working in the state government’s treasury to know if the government would pay the striking workers 80 per cent of their now 26 months salary arrears to avert a total strike as they have threatened.
