Thursday, 28 March, 2024
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Interns warned against joining Nigerian doctors’ strike

The Nigerian government has warned that medical interns who join the nationwide strike would have to repeat the mandatory two-year programme without remuneration, reports the country’s national newspaper, THISDAY.

This was contained in a statement signed by the registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, who said the law regulating the internship programmes does not condone strikes.

Last Monday, doctors in state-run hospitals began a strike over pay, insurance benefits and poor facilities as the country faces a third wave of coronavirus infections. The strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (Nard), which represents around 40% of doctors in Africa's most populous country, is the latest in a series of medical staff work stoppages.

Doctors have long complained of a lack of beds and drugs in hospitals as well as inadequate protective equipment. Other demands include life insurance coverage, a pay rise and payment of unsettled wages.

At the time of the first cases of coronavirus in the country in March, reports AfricaNews, Dr Francis Faduyile, president of the Nigerian Medical Association, said that between "70% and 80% of public health institutions did not have running water or enough clean water to wash their hands".

Sanusi’s statement said, “During the housemanship, doctors and dentists are required to undertake 12 weeks’ uninterrupted postings in each of Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics and other relevant specialties for dentistry. Any interruption for any reason, including embarking on strike actions, during any of the postings will not be condoned, and should be reported immediately to the chief medical director, medical director or medical superintendent of the housemanship training Institution.”

According to a Voice of America report, Ndaeyo Iwot, executive secretary at the Abuja Primary Health Care Board, said the strike was especially dangerous at this time, as the country faces a surge in coronavirus cases, and was “expected to affect those that are 50 years and above. particularly those with co-morbidities”. "The effect of COVID-19 on these patients would be aggravated," he added.

Out of about 42,000 registered doctors in Nigeria, some 16,800 or 40%, are residents.

 

THISDAY Live article – FG Threatens to Sanction Striking Doctors (Open access)

 

AfricaNews report – Doctors in Nigeria’s state-run hospitals have began a strike over pay (Open access)

 

VOA report – Nigerian Doctors Strike Amid Coronavirus Third Wave (Open access)

 

See more from MedicalBrief archives:

 

Nigeria’s hospital doctors embark on ‘indefinite strike’

 

Nigerian health workers strike over hazard pay to treat pandemic patients

 

Nigerian doctors again strike over pay and working conditions

 

 

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