Some patients at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, AE-FETHA in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria were visibly frustrated on Tuesday, as the warning strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, entered day two.
The action of the Resident Doctors is to draw government’s attention to the continuous captivity of one of their colleagues, Dr. Ganiyat Poopola abducted over eight months ago in Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria.
Some of the patients and caregivers expressed frustrations on how the seven-day warning strike has hampered the level of services being offered in the hospital, with consultants and House officers finding it difficult to cope with the surge in number of patients.
Victor Kalu and Ukaria Aruogu are some patients who are still hanging around the hospital. They are appealing to Nigeria Government and the Resident Doctors to call off the strike as it has led to inadequate medical attention for patients.
NARD President in AE-FETHA, Sunday Nnaji, could not be reached for comments but one of the members, Dr. Prisca Iheriohanma says they are in 100 percent compliance with the directives of the National Body, while calling on the Nigeria Government to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted Doctor.
In Owerri, the Imo State capital, South-East Nigeria, some patients who arrived public hospitals to keep appointments were left stranded as the warning strike by Resident Doctors, crippled activities in the hospitals.
The absence of these cadre of medical doctors to attend to patients has over-stretched the services of the few consultants, resulting in limited attention to few patients particularly on critical stages.
AIT.live reports that NARD members in Imo State enforced full compliance with the nationwide warning strike in all public health facilities visited in Owerri, in line with the directives issued by their national body.
A number of the patients expressed worry over their fate in the face of the health challenges that took them to the hospital, the danger of waiting for another another week while the strike will lasts, without receiving medical attention.
Meanwhile, the seven-day warning strike and protest by Resident Doctors at ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, in Enugu, on Tuesday brought hospital activities to a standstill, leaving patients stranded.
The Doctors who are demanding the rescue of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted in Kaduna State since December 2023 and has spent over eight months in captivity, marched through the hospital premises, carrying placards with various inscriptions.
The faces of patients seated in the Out-Patients Department told a story of frustration, as many were caught off guards by the strike and waited for hours without being attended to.
The NARD Branch President, Dr. Ofonere Chukwunonso, urged the government to do the needful to secure the release of Dr. Popoola. He expressed regrets that Doctors in Nigeria face increasing insecurity and poor welfare, even as many are leaving the country.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
