A tragedy struck in Nasarawa State when a middle-aged woman reportedly lost her life due to a five-day warning strike by resident doctors at the Dalhatu Specialist Hospital in Lafia, which is owned by the state government.
The Nasarawa State Council of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) commenced a five-day warning strike on Wednesday after the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to Governor Abdullahi Sule regarding issues concerning their welfare in the state.
The pregnant woman, whose name was not immediately available, was scheduled for a cesarean operation on Wednesday but was left unattended as a result of the strike action.
It should be noted that on June 13, the resident doctors issued a three-week ultimatum to the state government, demanding the resolution of welfare issues affecting their members.
Relatives and friends have begun the evacuation of their loved ones following the indefinite strike by the resident doctors in the state.
Dr. Peter Attah, the Chairman of NMA in the state, stated during an interview with journalists in Lafia that the decision to embark on the strike was made at an emergency meeting of the association on Tuesday. According to the Chairman, the strike was provoked by the lack of serious commitment from the government, despite having metting with a government delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, on two occasions.
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“We met twice after our ultimatum on June 13, but unfortunately the government is only paying lip service without showing serious concern over our demands,” he said.
“After discovering that the state government was not ready and prepared to address our demands, the Congress unanimously agreed to withdraw its services in all the 19 state government facilities from 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5 to 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 10.
“If by Monday, July 10th, the government remains adamant over our demands, we will call for Congress and decide on the next line of action, Dr. Attah added.
“We have decided to allow our colleagues with the Federal Medical Center to stay and attend to patients because the association has the interest of the health sector at heart,” the NMA Chairman stated.
“But if the government refuses to resolve the lingering issues by Monday, we may be forced to ask our colleagues in FMC and private facilities to join the strike.
“We have given the state government enough time to dialogue and address our demands, but the government has been insensitive to their plight. 88 Medical Doctors have left the services of the state in 2023 alone due to poor welfare packages,” the chairman stated.
