18th October, 2010
Some pregnant women on Sunday urged Lagos State Government to meet the demands of striking doctors to enable them get attention in the hospitals.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, saying that the strike has denied them of attention.
The women complained that this could pose danger for the safe delivery of their babies.
NAN reports that the resident doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild and Association of Resident Doctors embarked on indefinite strike on August 11.
They are demanding full implementation of the Medical Salary Structure and improved working conditions.
Mrs Aina Fateye, a trader, said that she could not register for ante-natal clinic at Ikorodu General Hospital because of the strike.
“Apart from those who had completed their ante-natal registration before the strike, some of us could not even start registration with few months into our date of delivery,†she said.
Fateye said that the strike had forced her husband to enroll her at a traditional clinic as an alternative.
“My husband is apprehensive of my condition because he could not afford the bill of private hospitals.
“So, he has to re-register me at a native clinic at Oreta near my residence in Ikorodu,’’ she said.
The woman appealed to the authorities to find a lasting solution to the perennial strike of the doctors.
Mrs Semi Olaleye, a 39-year-old business woman, said that she had parted with substantial amount of money to attend a private clinic.
“I have had a similar experience in the past due to the late commencement of my ante-natal schedule when doctors in the state were on strike.
“So, I have to pay exorbitant bills of the private hospitals this time around,†she said.
The mother of two said that she had to go to a private hospital when nurses said they would not accept any scan or x-ray done outside their hospital.
Mrs Rasheedat Alogba, a resident of Lagos Island, said she has placed her faith in God for safe delivery of her baby as she started ante-natal care at a herbal clinic.
“This is my third pregnancy and my first enrolment in a herbal home. I only pray there would not be any complication,†she said.
