Health workers under the aegis of Joint Heath Workers Union, Ogun State chapter at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, on Thursday began an indefinite strike, accusing the management of turning the centre “from centre of life to that of death.”
The State Chairman of JOHESU, Samuel Idowu, told journalists that they commenced the indefinite strike to compel the management of the centre to improve its health care delivery standards.
Idowu alleged that the centre had failed to offer efficient services to the patients, especially as there was poor power and water supply.
He said, “There is grand decline in health indices here. No running water for patients. They buy pure water to take their bath.
“We all know the power situation in this country. And this hospital cannot provide alternative. As a result there is incessant power failure and what is worse, patients are made to pay energy charges they did not use.”
Idowu also alleged that some consultants at the medical centre were not providing the services they were being paid for as they rarely showed up at work.
“Consultants have abandoned their duties. They rarely come to work and when they do, they dictate the number of patients they will attend to, maybe four or five; whereas, there are numerous patients dying to see them,” he said.
The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Segun Orisajo, however, denied the allegations, saying the management was working on the issues raised.
He said, “The hospital management led by the Medical Director held meeting with the JOHESU executives yesterday (Wednesday), where the MD assured them that the issues raised in their strike notice were being positively addressed by both the Ministry and the hospital.
“The Managemnt appealed to them to allow peace to reign for the sake of our patients. The management will not relent in finding a peaceful resolution to their agitations.”
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