The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C Don Adinuba, has described the strike action embarked on by resident doctors of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, as a profound disservice to the people of the state.

Adinuba in a statement made available to journalists in Awka said that the state Governor Willie Obiano did promise a review of the salary of the doctors saying that in view of the ongoing national effort at salary review across the board, the Anambra State Government explained to the Resident Doctors that it would be untidy to review their salary alone last month, only to do another review for them once the salary review of other public servants is concluded.

The statement said in part: “This situation was well conveyed to the doctors through the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike.

“More than any other group of Ndi Anambra, the Resident Doctors at the state Teaching Hospital should exhibit great understanding of what the present administration’s commitment to the growth of the hospital and its workforce.

“For instance, the teaching hospital could not be accredited by the Medical and Dental Registration Council of Nigeria, thus making the undergraduate medical students stay in school for a whole eight years without obtaining the basic medical degree and without any hope of obtaining the licence.

“If any group of workers in Nigeria must embark on an industrial action, there are laid down procedures which must be followed. There is unfortunately no indication that the Association of Resident Doctors at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital followed due process on embarking on the ongoing strike. Anambra is a state governed by law and due process, and our people expect all individuals and organizations in our midst to show exemplary behavior in all things, in keeping with the culture of excellence evolving in Anambra State.”

Adinuba reminded the Doctors that the casualties of their ongoing strike are not Anambra State Government officers but numerous patients at the state teaching hospital, especially the downtrodden who cannot afford to go to private hospitals for specialist treatment.

He appealed to the Association of Resident Doctors at Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka, to return to work immediately in the name of the Hippocratic Oath they have taken to save life to continue to work for the common good.

It was however gathered that the state Governor has already gone into an emergency meeting with the striking doctors to figure out measures to end the strike.

When News Express visited the Hospital, patients were seen killing around as it appeared the strike has not taken full effect.

At the office of the Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Dr Basil Nwankwo, he said that the hospital is not totally grounded.

He explained that the consultants are working and that skeletal medical services are still being rendered by the teaching hospital as well as the outpatient section.

Nwankwo however confirmed that the governor is already holding talks with the Resident Doctors on the way forward adding that in no distant time the strike would be over.

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