Doctors Hint On Fresh Nationwide Strike Dec. 14

Government-owned hospitals across the federation might be shut to medical services this weekend if the threat by the Nigeria Medical Association, the umbrella body for all medical and dental doctors in the country, on Wednesday, is anything to go by.

The association said the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, “should be held responsible for any crisis that could erupt in the health sector”.

In a statement yesterday, the NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele said the latest threat to embark on strike arose from an alleged breach of an agreement reached with the Federal Government especially on some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the conditions of service of doctors.

Dr. Enabulele recalled that on September 2, 2013, the association had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the issues tabled before it.

“On account of the foregoing, it may be difficult to guarantee further extension of the grace period and consequently, industrial harmony in the health sector, especially as the December 14, 2013 deadline issued to the Federal Government to concretely resolve the demands of the NMA, draws closer, Dr. Enabulele said.

“Therefore, the NMA most distressingly alerts the entire nation about the imminent collapse of health services across the entire country given the apparent levity and lack of concrete commitment so far exhibited by the government through the Federal Ministry of Health”.

According to the NMA President, efforts by the association to meet with the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health “even at this eleventh hour collapsed following the unserious approach and attitude of the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health, who seem to be less bordered about the potential crisis which may erupt in Nigeria’s health sector from Saturday, December 14, 2013”.