The Rivers state chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors NARD says it is set to join the strike proposed to begin on Monday 15th June 2020 by the national body of the association.
The decision according to the association has become inevitable following the inability of the government to meet its demands despite their frontline status in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Over seventeen doctors are said to have tested positive to coronavirus in Rivers state, yet the government appears to be insensitive to the hazards encountered by health care workers who are mostly exposed to coronavirus infection
The National Association of resident doctors had on May 29th given a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government to embark on indefinite strike, if issues that range from hazard allowances for frontline workers in the COVID-19 fight, the implementation of the comprehensive insurance for doctors, reinstatement of sacked doctors among others are not addressed.
The Rivers state chapter of the association at the University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital and the Rivers state university teaching hospital say the strike is inevitable as over 17 doctors from both hospitals have tested positive for coronavirus yet government has done nothing to attend to their demands.
They are also worried about the insensitivity government has shown in approving the renovation of the National Assembly yet cutting down on the health budget at a time when the whole world is fighting against the Coronavirus pandemic.
They therefore pleaded with the citizens to understand that their demand is for the improvement of the health care system in Nigeria
Nigerians are hopeful that government and doctors would come to an agreeable conclusion as the health care system cannot withstand a strike action in the midst of the growing covid 19 cases on a daily basis.
(Editor Nkoli Omhoudu)
