In response to JOHESU, nurses, midwives, others begin strike in Ogun

Health workers during the strike. Photo: Samuel Awoyinfa Following the nationwide strike declared by the national body of the Joint Hea...

Health workers during the strike. Photo: Samuel Awoyinfa

Following the nationwide strike declared by the national body of the Joint Health Sector Union, nurses, midwives and allied medical workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday has also commenced an indefinite strike.

The strike, which commenced with an early morning rally by the members and executive council of JOHESU FMC chapter, grounded activities in many of the wards in the centre.
As early as 8am, health workers, with the exception of doctors, abandoned their duty posts and resorted to peaceful protest within the premises.
The JOHESU members and union leaders carried placards with different inscriptions which include: ‘Enough is Enough, stop stagnation of our members’, ‘Ministry of Health, stop destroying the health sector’,  and ‘Minister Adewole, obey the court order,’ among others.
Addressing journalists, the JOHESU chairman, FMC chapter, Samuel Idowu, said their members had received shabby treatment from Federal Government, and their demands were not being attended to.
Some of the demands, he said, include improved welfare, adequate funding for hospitals, provision of adequate equipment and prompt payment of salaries.
Idowu told journalists that the industrial action became inevitable, having served the Federal Government with “20 different ultimatums totalling 192 days” without positive response from the government.
He said it was time the government stopped “injustice” being meted out to health workers.
Idowu also accused FG of lopsidedness on welfare packages to various health professionals.
He said, “We believe the healthcare team comprises various professionals and to that extent government should be responsible enough to take care of the needs of all of these professionals, so that optimal care will be given to patients.
“But what we have witnessed is lopsidedness in the way government dishes out welfare packages to team members, favouring one side of the team above other side of the team.”
On the fate of the patients at the centre, Idowu said, “Only a well motivated care giver can provide good medical service without transfer of aggression to the patients.”
(Punch)