Encomium
Patients in solidarity with striking doctors
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday July 1, 2014, embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demands, and this has left general hospitals across the federation filled with stranded patients needing medicare, but with no doctors to attend to them.
The umbrella body housing professionals in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, public health and laboratory medicine/pathology in Nigeria, had prior to their embarking on the industrial action, issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve the issues raised at a meeting between the two bodies.
This latest strike by NMA has left many patients stranded at general hospitals, with some of them clearly needing medicare. ENCOMIUM Weekly visited the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), on Saturday, July 5, 2014, and found that the hospital had been starved of doctors, with only the nurses attending to patients. Doctors only came for specific patients.
-FG pushed us to the wall, says NMA president, Obembe
Dr. Kayode Obembe, the National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has stated the stance of the association on the strike:
“Everybody should know that medical doctors in Nigeria are also human beings. We have blood like everybody else; we have bones like everybody else; we have flesh like everyone. As a result of this, we actually feel bad that the association should degenerate to such a condition…but one thing I want to make clear is that we were also pushed to the wall before we had to go to this length.
We had a chat with relatives of patients in the emergency ward on the situation. Here are their responses…
“Yes, doctors come around. Sometimes in the case of emergency or to check on their patients who were admitted before the strike. They are not admitting new patients. They say it is because of the strike.
Like me, I’m here for my father, who was admitted before the strike.
They ran tests and diagnosed him of stroke. We brought him here because he fell in the bathroom and broke his neck and some other parts of his body. Though he is improving now, his doctor comes around to administer drugs and check how he is doing. We thank God he is getting better, at least now he can talk, unlike when we brought him here last week. The doctors too have a heart so, they can’t watch a patient and do nothing. Let them just call off this strike, please.”
ABRAHAM IWAYEMI
Yes, they attend to patients. But it is mainly the student doctors that come to the hospital. They come in the morning to do their rounds and check on their patients. The hospital doesn’t admit new patients because the doctors are on strike. Even with the strike, the doctors are still doing their work, they still care for the patients.”
TOPE BALOGUN
I’m here for my dad, the doctors said he has partial stroke. The doctors come to the hospital, but not like before. Normally, a doctor that is supposed to spend say six hours would only stay for two hours. But I must say that the doctors work very hard and they have good heart. Like the doctor who took over my dad’s case when we brought him in before the strike, she spent the whole day and even passed the night in the hospital.
Even since the strike she has been coming to the hospital, and we are even expecting her today. So, I must say they are really trying. I think this strike will be to the benefit of the patients, besides when they get their demands it is still the patients that will enjoy it, not them.”
COLLINS AKINSANYA
Among its minimum end points, NMA wants:
– The creation of the position of DCMAC-Deputy Chairman of Medical Advisory Committees to remain in teaching hospitals and federal medical centres.
-Not to use the nomenclature “director” for anyone in hospital other than a medical doctor, but insists non-medical workers can attain the height of their career. The title, “consultant” in a hospital setting should be reserved for doctors handling patients and not applied to appointments of non-doctor consultants, insisting it “will be a source of confusion.”
– A speedy passage of the National Health Bill, universal health coverage for all Nigerians even suggesting an extra one kobo per second on call costs to finance a community health insurance fund.
– A surgeon-general of the federation appointed with immediate effect, in accordance with the President’s pronouncement.”
– The Central Bank to withdraw a circular authorising Medical and Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria to approve licences for importation of in-vitro diagnostics (tools for lab tests), insisting that the council was duplicating the role of NAFDAC and causing obstacle to adequate development of healthcare.
– MICHAEL NWOKIKE AND OYINKANSOLA EKERIN
