GUARDIAN
Patients in public hospitals in Abia have continued to bear the brunt of the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the state.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the strike, reports a total compliance with the NMA directive at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) and Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital in Umuahia.
The association in Abia had on Dec. 9 declared a strike but on Jan. 10 declared the strike total and indefinite.
The body announced the strike because of unpaid salary arrears of 25 and 13 months for Abia State University Teaching Hospital and Hospital Management Board workers, respectively.
A patient, Mrs Glory Orji, said that she travelled from Aba to FMC to receive prompt medical care but was met with disappointment as a result of the strike.
“Health matters are very important and should be treated as such by all concerned, therefore, I call on the government to do the needful,” Orji said.
Another patient, Mr Fidelis Onuoha, said that he resides in Imo and was at FMC Umuahia for his routine medical check but lamented that doctors were not attending to patients.
Onuoha said the development was disturbing and worrisome for him and urged the government to meet the demands of the doctors because of citizens with health needs.
An expectant mother, Mrs Eunice Njoku, appealed to doctors to run skeletal services because of the patients who visit the hospital for emergency medical care.
Njoku urged the state government to meet the demands of the doctors and bring the strike to an end without further delay.
A physiotherapist, Miss Veronica Ahamefula, said that she brought her sister to the hospital to see a neurologist, but was told that doctors were on strike.
“I appeal to the government to meet the demands of NMA because its members play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of the citizens…
