Kwara health system suffers as workers vow to continue strike

There is no end in strike to the tango between the Kwara State Government and the health workers over demand for salary increase which has forced the workers to go on strike.

The health workers had penultimate Wednesday declared indefinite strike, demanding increase of Consolidated Health Institutions Salary Scheme (CONHESS) from 50% to 100% and provision of infrastructure in the state-owned health facilities.

The striking health workers include the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Community Health Extension Workers, Laboratory Technicians and Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, among others.

Daily Trust reports that the development has led to a virtual collapse of health care in the state as federal health workers’ strike is still ongoing.

All the state-owned health institutions especially the most-patronised ones like the general hospitals, Civil Service Clinic, Sobi Specialist Hospital, among others are hit in the ongoing strike.

Patients were only attended to by doctors who prescribe drugs for them and refer them to medicine stores. However, no surgical operation could be carried out, according to a medical doctor who spoke to our correspondent.

A meeting of health workers met with Kwara government last Friday could not resolve the strike.