Hundreds of patients in Nigeria have been left unattended as doctors across the country go on strike demanding that they will only return to work when their needs have been met. There have been numerous complaints of poor remuneration and welfare of health workers in Nigeria
The strike which started last week on Thursday has left patients with no one to attend to them and now patients and caretakers are demanding that the government meets the needs and requirements of the doctors so that they can get back to work.
“I advise the government to be serious with the doctors. I am here and I see how it is, it is not easy. Government should take the lives of its people very seriously,” said Nehemiah Josua, a patient.
Most of the patients are worried that if the situation is not resolved soon and doctors get back to work early, they risk some of their cases getting worse, pain increasing and in the worst-case scenario, some of the patients might lose their lives in the process.
Some of the patients say that they have to wait for hours before they can see a doctor available.
“Instead of the government trying to maintain and increase the facilities in the hospitals and pay the doctors to do their work, they prefer to go outside the country for treatment,” said Eze Kelvin, a patient.
What are the Doctors in Nigeria Saying about the Strike?
“I think the position of doctors in this country is very important, so whatever they are demanding to improve their services towards patients, the government should meet such demands,” Margret Iyara, a patient said.
Dotun Osikoya the Public Relation Officer, National Association of Resident Doctors says that “it is unfortunate they have to go on strike during this critical period”. “We are open to dialogue”, he added.
“What are we actually asking for? It is about our welfare, our training as resident doctors. Some of our members are being owed 2-3 months’ salary in some federal institutions. We have in some states like Abia state Teaching Hospital, they are being owed 20 months’ salary, In Imo teaching Hospital, it’s 5 months’ salary, it’s wrong because these people have families,” Osikoya added.
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