The Nigerian National association of resident doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has officially begun a nationwide strike after the 14 days ultimatum it gave to the federal government expired.
Dr Aliyu Sokomba who is the national president of NARD made this known in a statement issued from his office last week, he made this decision along with the healthcare professionals in the country after the government had neglected to act on their demands.
The demand of the resident doctor’s association had been among other things the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers on the covid-19 isolation centres, reversal of the sack of resident doctors in Jos, payment of salary arrears and funding for the medical residency training in 2021 appropriation bill.
The statement by the resident doctors chairman reads, “Consequent upon the 14 days ultimatum duly served the Federal Government for indefinite strike action, in accordance with the resolution of the Ordinary General Meeting of the Association on the May 29, we hereby notify you that all resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of Principal Medical Officer and House Officers across all the Federal and State hospitals in Nigeria, shall be embarking on a total and indefinite strike action effective 12:01 am on Monday, 15th June 2020.
“It is important that you make alternative arrangements for the care of the patients as the strike shall be total and indefinite. No service of any kind, be it emergency, care at COVID-19 isolation and treatment centres shall be exempted. We sympathize with the patients and the Nigerian populace.
“For purpose of clarity, the demands on which the ultimatum was predicated include the following; Provision of grossly inadequate appropriate Personal Protective Equipment for all health care workers; Immediate reversal of the illegal disengagement of all 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the payment of all salaries owed them, in keeping with provisions of the Medical Residency Training Act.
“Universal Implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all federal and state hospitals and ensuring pay parity among doctors of equal cadre; Immediate implementation of the revised hazard allowance and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance as agreed with by the Federal Government and healthcare workers three months ago.”