Poor Working Environment: Angry ABUTH Resident Doctors issue management 14-day ultimatum – Gobroadsheet
//Medical, Kaduna//
Following the expiration of earlier two weeks ultimatum, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Ahmad Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Monday issued a fresh two-week ultimatum to the hospital management to consider their proposal or risk industrial action.
It would be recalled that NARD, ABUTHS branch, had on Monday, August 15, 2016, staged a peaceful demonstration in the hospital, demanding improved environmental condition in the hospital to help them deliver standard medical services as obtainable in other climes.
Other agitations of the doctors include terrible state of health facilities and equipment, unwarranted sufferings of patients and their relations, lack of repairs and maintenance of structures leading to leakages of water and sewage, leading to lost of accreditation of some departments while many could not even get accreditation by relevant authorities.
Addressing newsmen on Monday, President, Dr Waziri Aliyu-Dahiru, reiterated that the association had on August 30, 2016, held an emergency congress to review events following the expiration of earlier ultimatum issued over the same issue.
According to him, the initial plan was to commence indefinite strike action yesterday Monday, September 5, but was suspended due to the intervention of some notable Nigerians including Senators representing Kaduna Central and Kaduna North in the upper chamber of National Assembly, Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi.
He said, “considering the antecedents and reputation of Prof. Abdulmuminu Rafindadi (former CMD), the integrity of members of his committee, the ongoing efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health and other distinguished Nigerians, we hereby extend the ultimatum to September 15, 2016.
“This is to give enough time for amicable resolution of the problem and for the management to do the needful.
“In the event the hospital management does not show any commitment at the end of all these interventions by September 15th, we shall embark on a indefinite strike,” he warned.
But in a swift response, the ABUTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Lawal Khalid, said the management is working towards addressing the problem but the only grey area was money to address some of the requests.
“When you do not have the money, there is no way you can adequately address a problem. However, we are working towards meeting their demands before the ultimatum expires”, stated the CMD.