The Nigeria government has on Wednesday, issued a directive to Chief Medical Directors, to instantly commence the use of Corp members in replacement of striking doctors in order to provide routine services in the hospital.
This is coming after National Association of Resident doctors went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday.
Reacting to this development, The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who gave the directive in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Said the action taken by doctors is saddened especially in this critical time when covid 19 is ravaging the world and threatening mankind.
“lt is with deep concern that l view the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors which commenced yesterday (Tuesday) September 7, 2020″
“We must remember that the primary duty of doctors and all health workers is to save lives. Embarking on a strike in time that the country is battling with the COVlD-19 pandemic is ill-timed and ill-advised” he said
Ehanire further stressed that “lt is a critical time in which all well-meaning medical professionals should close ranks and confront the common enemy which is the COVlD-I9 pandemic, threatening mankind.”
“This is therefore one strike too many. Besides, most of the demands have been met and others, though difficult, are at an advanced stage of implementation. A little patience would have made a big difference.”
Giving directives and guidelines in the absence of resident doctors, Enihare said that covid 19 treatment should continue to function as before while routine services should be maintained with the corps members.
“COVID-19 treatment outlets should continue to function as before; emergency services should continue to run as before; routine services should be maintained with consultants, NYSC Doctors; locum staffers to be brought in when and where necessary to forestall services disruption when applicable and affordable,” the minister said.
“I call on the NARD to return to work and engage the Federal Government in completing the ongoing due process of implementing the MoU between NARD and government”
Assuring the general public that measures have been put in place to ensure that they continue to access services at all the federal tertiary hospitals across the country and services and medical operations will continue as before.
By Chinenye Gertrude
GGB reports
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