Doctors’ strike paralyses services in UniAbuja teaching hospital

Medical services at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) have been crippled due to the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors.

A man, Aliyu Sani, who brought his wife for antenatal, said the strike was doing more harm than good as patients in pain were not being attended to for long hours.

He said,” My wife and I have spent over five hours waiting to see a doctor at the antenatal unit.”

He appealed that the federal government should dialogue with the resident doctors to resolve the issues and suspend the strike.

Another patient, Mrs. Favour Ezewenta, said she was attended to by a consultant, but other patients were suffering as they were seen moving about hoping to be attended to too.

“The patients are at the receiving end. The consultants are trying, but more hands are needed to do the job.

“We hope both parties will reach an agreement to find lasting solutions to the problem on ground,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer, UATH, Mr Frank Omagbon, who spoke with our reporter, said the consultants in the various disciplines along with house officers were attending to patients.

“It is a nationwide strike. We don’t have any internal issue with the association. That means it is something beyond our control,” he said.

He expressed hope that the doctors and FG would reach a reasonable conclusion so the strike could be called off.