The Association of Resident Doctors of Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital has declared an indefinite strike over the abysmal shortage of doctors, insecurity, and poor sponsorship of the residency programme
The doctors announced this in a communique issued at end of their Emergency General Meeting, released to journalists on Tuesday.
The strike, according to the communique, would commence on January 31, 2024, after seven weeks grace, in which its earlier third series of notification of ultimatum to the Enugu State government to do the needful and meet its demands were ignored.
The communique, jointly signed by the ARD-RSUT President and Secretary General, Dr Chukwunonso Ofonere, and Dr Ikemefuna Nnamani respectively, 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 of grace, following the ultimatum expiration for it to meet the demands of the association.
The doctors regretted that the management of ESUT Parklane, and the Enugu State government had failed to declare a state of emergency on the employment of doctors and safety and security within the hospital.
The EGM observed that it is over 180 days since the government, through the Secretary to the State Government, promised the ARD of employment of Medical Officers, Resident Doctors, and payment of medical Residency Training Funds, “and we are yet to see the employment of new doctors.”
It said that the EGM noted that the security men placed at the gate are no longer there and direct daily assault on doctors had increased again; while the safety of doctors and other health workers in the hospital cannot be guaranteed.
The doctors said, “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, Pediatrics Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments, etc. Resident doctors who had left our institution in the past four years and were never replaced.
“Management should ensure implementation of safety policies to protect her 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 has not been paid and exam bodies are closing their adverts.”
The communique said that salary increments had not been looked into at all; even as house officers were excluded from the hardship/palliative of N25,000 given by the state governor.
It added, “We are still back to where we were in 2023 or even worse, as plans are on the way to increase the rents of those living in the hospital quarters – one-bedroom apartment – by about 375 percent from N8,000 to N30,000 monthly.
“This will escalate the already palpable crises and we will be left with no other alternatives, but to protect the interest and welfare of our members.
“January 31, 2024, is here already and the doctors are mobilising for an indefinite, total, and maybe protracted industrial action, if nothing is done.”
The doctors also pleaded with Governor Peter Mbah, to intervene in the matter to avoid untold hardship and loss of lives that might occur if there is a disruption in the health care delivery in the state
