Thursday 12 January 2017

Doctors begin warning strike in Rivers State over Health sector Negligence

Medical doctors in Rivers State have begun a three-day warning strike over an alleged negligence of the health sector by the state government.

The aggrieved doctors who are under the State Government payroll, disclosed that the reason behind the latest strike action was sequel to failure by the State Government to respond to issues bordering on their welfare and good working atmosphere.
A communiqué issued after a meeting on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, noted that the doctors under the aegis of National Association of Government Medical and Dental Practitioners and Resident Doctors in Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, decided to embark on strike due to government failure to comply with their earlier agreement.
Chairman of the Association, Dr. Sofiri Starson-Peterside, said they decided to embark on the strike after the government had failed to respond to some of the demands, which would ensure a good service delivering to the public.
Starson-Peterside noted that the ultimatum the association of doctors initially ensued the government had elapsed, adding that the government had failed to bridge the manpower gap in the health sector.
According to him: “As the body of doctors that work for the government in River State, we gave a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to handle the issues that concerns the medical doctors. The ultimatum expired today but those issues were not met.
“The issues that were raised are pertinent issues that will improve the health sector of the state.
“We observed that the Rivers State government has not taken position in the corrected salary structure of doctors in the state. It suffices to say that other states have commenced the implementation of this structure.
“After extensive deliberation, we have found out that no visible attempt has been made to bridge the manpower gape in the health sector and that there is lack of capacity development in the health sector of the state, particularly the specialist training progamme.
“Following the warning strike from
He told the medical doctors to stick strictly to the order, saying it was in the interest of the public.

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