By STANLEY NWANOSIKE

Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, says it will embark on indefinite strike over abysmal shortage of doctors and insecurity.

The doctors said that the indefinite strike would commence on Jan. 31, a day after its period of grace had expired.

The doctors had earlier in December 2023 issued an ultimatum to government. That ultimatum also expired the same month after which the association gave a period of grace which expires on Jan. 30.

These details are contained in a communique issued on Monday in Enugu at the end of the Emergency General Meeting (EGM) of ARD in ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, which was held on Saturday,

The communique was jointly signed by the President of ARD-ESUT, Dr Chukwunonso Ofonere, and its Secretary General, Dr Ikemefuna Nnamani.

It said that the EGM observed with regret, the silence from the Management of the hospital on the 14-day ultimatum issued and another 49 days period of grace following the ultimatum for it to meet the demands of the association.

The statement said the Management of ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, and the Enugu State Government had failed to declare a state of emergency on employment of doctors and safety and security within the hospital.

According to the statement, the EGM observed that it is over 180 days since the Government, through the Secretary to the State Government, promised ARD of employment of Medical Officers, Resident Doctors and payment of medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF), “but we are yet to see the employment of new doctors.”

It noted that security men placed at the gate of the hospital are no longer there and the daily assault on doctors has increased again.

It said safety of doctors and other health workers in the hospital cannot be guaranteed.

“The management should declare a state of emergency on the employment of Doctors in the hospital. There should be an urgent approval for the recruitment of Medical Officers, Resident Doctors and House Officers in the hospital.

“This recruitment should be focused especially at the Accident and Emergency Department, Surgery Department, Internal Medicine Department, Paediatrics Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments. Resident Doctors that have left our institution in the past four years have not been replaced.

“Management should ensure implementation of safety policies to protect its workers against physical attacks and kidnap by restoring the daily police and other covert security personnel deployed to the hospital.

“The 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) has not been paid and exam bodies are closing their adverts,” it said.

The communique said that salary increment had not been looked into at all; even as house officers were excluded from the hardship/palliative of N25,000.

“We are still back to where we were in 2023 or even worse as plans are on to increase the rents of doctors living in the hospital quarters (one bedroom apartment) by about 375 per cent from N8,000 to N30,000 monthly.

“This will escalate the already palpable crises and we will be left with no other alternative but to protect the interest and welfare of our members.

“Jan. 31 is here already and the doctors are mobilising for an indefinite, total and maybe protracted strike if nothing is done,” it added.

They are also pleading that the state government, led by Gov. Peter Mbah, should intervene in this matter to avoid untold hardship and loss of lives that might occur if there is a disruption in health care delivery in the state. (NAN)

Update news