NMA condemns health workers strike, says demands selfish

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bayelsa State chapter has described as “selfish” the demands by the Joint Health Sector Unions ( JOHESU) whose members are on strike in the country.

The Chairman of NMA in Bayelsa State, Dr Keme Pondei, in a statement, said the strike was aimed at disrupting quality health delivery in Bayelsa.

JOHESU had on April 18 embarked on a nationwide strike due to alleged Federal Government’s failure to meet their demands

“NMA notes with displeasure the attempt by an amorphous illegal group of allied Health workers who are mostly Cleaners, Ward maids, Laboratory Scientists, Nurses and Pharmacists among others called JOHESU to disrupt the provision of quality health services to the good people of Bayelsa.

“JOHESU is trying to arm-twist the Federal Government through a national strike for a long list of demands because any attempt at granting this request, means that same must be apply to medical doctors,” he said.

He said that headship of hospitals was against the extant laws setting up hospitals, explaining that it would amount at anarchy if everybody working in hospital become the head.

Mr Pondei, however, noted that medical doctors in Bayelsa are not on strike, which was why they are in support of the position of NMA national body of the strike.