Medical Consultants Decry Incessant Strikes In Nigeria Health Sector
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) University of Ibadan chapter, has condemned the incessant strikes in the health sector, saying it is gradually destroying the nation’s health sector.
The association, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Olushola Ibiyemi, and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Friday, said, “the Nigerian populace has suffered enough and the health sector must desist from adding to their burden”.
It called on government at all tiers in the country to be more proactive at preventing industrial unrests in the nation’s health sector.
It said that the call became imperative in order to check what it called ‘unbridled unionism’, which it described as “deplorable and condemnable”.
Recalling the alleged assault on its members by the members of JOHESU during the latter’s industrial action last month, the association condemned incessant strikes in the health sector saying, “the Nigerian populace has suffered enough and the health sector must desist from adding to their burden”.
On the alleged assault on its members, MDCAN disclosed that last month’s JOHESU strike resulted in locking up of offices as well as refusal to submit the key of the key room to the management of the tertiary hospital.
The statement, however recalled that “when some management staff attempted to retrieve some keys in order to ensure access to certain vital areas on the premises, they were roughly manhandled and locked up in hostage, an incident that unfortunately brought to memory, similar circumstances that led to the murder of a former CMD in Nigeria, Prof. Bandipo of blessed memory.
“Worldwide, hospitals represent a place of refuge and it is therefore unfortunate that health workers, who should know better, will desecrate these corridors of sanctuary”, the association further stated.
While admitting as inalienable, the right of any worker to participate in a strike, MDCAN maintained that, “it is absolutely uncalled for to endanger the lives of others”, adding, “we wish to state categorically that assault on any of our members shall no longer be tolerated and shall henceforth be met with every acceptable resistance and if need be, be prosecuted to the fullest”.
