In Awka, the Anambra state capital, the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, COOUTH Amaka was a shadow of its self as some wards were under lock when AIT.live visited to monitor the impact of the seven-day nationwide warning strike by Resident Doctors.
The premises seem deserted as only few of the medical students and some seemingly disappointed patients were seen within the hospital.
Some of the patients who declined speaking to AIT.live on camera however lamented their displeasure on the ongoing warning strike and protest by the Resident Doctors.
They call for urgent government intervention to meet the demand as well as secure the release of Dr. Ganiyat Poopola who has been in the hands of her abductors for over eight months.
When contacted on telephone, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors COOUTH Amaku Awka, Dr. Joy Okwunmuo confirmed the compliance of all the members but could not give further details due to the noisy environment where she was at that time.
The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria is experiencing significant challenges due to the ongoing seven-day warning strike declared by members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD.
The strike was called in response to the continuous captivity of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola abducted in Kaduna State since December 2023.
As a result, nurses are now responsible for managing patients’ care, leading to concerns about the hospital’s ability to maintain its usual standards of service.
Patients and their caregivers are expressing their worries about the current situation, urging the government to act swiftly to secure Dr. Popoola’s release. They fear that the strike could have serious consequences if it continues for an extended period.
This situation has brought attention to the vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s healthcare system where the absence of Resident Doctors is having a noticeable impact on hospital operations.
Meanwhile, activities at the Abubakar Tafawa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH in Bauchi State, North-East Nigeria have been paralysed as Resident Doctors joined their counterparts to press home their demand for the safe rescue off their abducted colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola.
NARD President of the ATBUTH Chapter, Dr. Umar Alkali, confirmed that the hospital is in total compliance with the warning strike.
According to him, the second day of the warning strike marks the official day for observing the warning strike at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, after the official handing over of patients to other health workers on day one.
AIT.live visited some of the departments to monitor compliance. They all looked deserted, with not many patients.
Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of ATBUTH, Dr Haruna Liman said the hospital is actually feeling the impact of the warning strike, but said measures have been put in place to ensure no patient is sent home.
Liman hopes for the quick return of the Resident Doctors to their duty posts, after the expiration of their seven-day warning strike.
As the ongoing warning strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, progresses, the management of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Bida, in Niger State, North-Central Nigeria has resorted to temporarily reducing the number of patients and cases to be attended to, due to shortage of manpower.
This is as the warning strike by the 142 Resident Doctors at the FMC Bida branch achieved 100% compliance, as stated by the Branch President, Dr. Job Abutu.
Reacting to the development, spokesperson of the hospital, Kayode Arokoyo, said the strike did not affect its services, though they have resorted to reducing the number of patients and cases to be attended to temporarily.
He added that services are being rendered at all the points in the hospital, except for the reduced workforce, due to the striking Resident Doctors.
NARD had declared a seven-day nationwide warning strike, which began on Monday night, August 26, to press home immediate action for the release of one of their members, Dr. Ganiyat Poopola, who was abducted eight months ago from the National Eye Centre in Kaduna State.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
