Hospitals Count Loses As Health Workers Strike Persists
AS the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and federal government failed to reach a consensus, teaching hospitals across the country have lamented on the damage the action posed on the health sector. The health workers who embarked on a nationwide strike on April 17 are protesting for the adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) scale, specialist allowance, same scale promotion, employment of additional health professionals, implementation of court judgements, enhanced entry point, upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65. When theguardianvisited one of the federal hospital, it was observed that the activities were at minimal as only doctors were seen attending to patients. Interacting with a worker at the facility who pleaded anonymity, she said that the hospital have lost a lot due to ongoing strike actions. She explained to theguardian that a lot of lives have been lost, expira- tion of blood and drugs at its maximum because of lack of the customers.
She also lamented, on loss of training period because teaching hospitals are there to train doctors and carry out research but during this moment of strike training period are lost thereby giving room to the graduation of quacks as medical personnel. “There are areas lecturers will not touch, but you will come to exam and see it. As at time they present it to you, you are a quack so it has a future effect. The government should look into it holistically.” She said. She added: “Also, revenues to the hospital are lost; patient’s confidence is also lost because some patients do not have confidence in these hospitals where we have experts. After the strike we normally see people calling to ask if the hospital is in strike. These are some of the issues because we have lost their confidence.
“Since the federal government approved the Public Private Partnership (PPP) some of the companies in this partnership with the hospitals are losing revenue and also breach of con- tract.”
When asked if the number of deaths increased as a result of the strike, she claimed not have the exact figure, though predicting the number of deaths will be enormous.
At Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital (NATH) Nnewi, it was observed that activities were ground as a result of the strike; departments were empty and some under lock and key. The Generator was off as such work can be done. Patients are already leaving because nobody is attending to them.
A student Radiographer told theguardian that he was in the ward this morning and a patient died because nurses who would attend to the patient already left because of the strike.
At University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/ozalla Enugu, a student simply identified as Friday blamed the government for its insensitivity toward the plight of the people saying that the doctors cannot do all the works so it’s detrimental to the way things function.
CHRISTIAN Osueke of Landmark University has called for the adoption of automation as the major catalyst towards achieving national growth and a developed economy for the nation. Osueke, of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Landmark University, OmuAran, made the call while delivering the institution’s 5th Inaugural Lecture held at the school auditorium in Omu-aran, Kwara State.
The don who is a Professor of Design, Automation and Energy spoke on “Divine Secrets:theboosterof Innovativedesignand Automation” argued that such adoption has became necessary in order to reduce production cost and eliminate waste in the country. According to him, the continuous application of muscular efforts in form of hand pressure leads to fatigue, loss of concentration and inaccurate production.
AHEADOF this year’s Ramadan fast, Nigerian Muslims have been charged to use the period to pray fervently for God’s intervention in security challenges facing the nation and to pray for an end to the incessant killings in most parts of the country especially in the North, where herdsmen continue to wreck havoc.
President of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni, Akeeb Olusola Oladokun gave this charge in a statement ahead of the 24th PreRamadan Lecture of the group, scheduled for tomorrow at the University of Lagos. He lamented that the growing insecurity in the country poses a major setback to socio economic development and well being of Nigerians adding the people must support government with necessary information to win the battle. He however stressed the need for security agencies to fashion out new means of tackling the menace by ensuring that those who perpetrate the killings are brought to justice. According to him, the agencies must start with uncovering the source of weapons used by the killers and their sponsors to stop further attacks.