22nd June, 2010
Patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were this morning left in agony as the medical doctors began strike in obedience to their national headquarters’ directive.
A visit to the hospital this morning revealed that many out-patients had to go back while many on admission were discharged to seek treatment outside the apex hospital.
When P.M.NEWS contacted the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Yako Obinna, he neither confirmed nor denied the strike.
However, the chairman of the Medical Association of UPTH, Dr. Alikor Chizindu, confirmed that the strike will be indefinite, adding that their demands include: Concerted infrastructure development of the medical sector in Nigeria, special budgetary allocation for specialised training of medical doctors and the payment of consolidated salary structure for medical doctors.
“Before this indefinite strike, there was nationwide warning strike by doctors but the Federal Government failed to address the issues,†he said.
Probed further on when the strike may end, Dr. Chizindu said: “The strike is indefinite. We are not going back until the issues are addressed. These are no selfish issues. We cannot continue to work in an environment where the Federal Government will not pay serious attention to infrastructure and human development.â€
—Ofiebor Okafor/Port Harcourt