The protesting health workers today carried placards with inscriptions that read, “Jonathan save the health sector,” “2015: No proper health care, no vote,” “Jonathan: Our health or your second term: choose.” The protesters urged Mr. Jonathan to immediately take a break from his campaign schedule to address the concerns of the health workers. “If the people are not healthy, how can you tell them to vote for you?” one of the striking workers told SaharaReporters.
With scores of health workers at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Bayelsa State on strike since last November, the state has seen a sharp rise in the death rate of patients with serious ailments.
Doctors and other medical personnel employed by the Federal Government went on strike almost two months ago to protest what they called the government’s nonchalant response to demands made by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Care Professionals.
At a rally held today by the striking staff, the chairman of the University Teaching Hospital Research and other Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Mr. Save Ubani, told reporters that the strike, which was called in November 2014, has resulted in the deaths of at least 100 patients in the state, including a nursing staff of the FMC, Ms. Theresa Edet.
The protesting health workers today carried placards with inscriptions that read, “Jonathan save the health sector,” “2015: No proper health care, no vote,” “Jonathan: Our health or your second term: choose.” The protesters urged Mr. Jonathan to immediately take a break from his campaign schedule to address the concerns of the health workers. “If the people are not healthy, how can you tell them to vote for you?” one of the striking workers told SaharaReporters. She added: “Out of those dying due to the Federal Government indifference, there are registered voters.”
Mr. Ubani stated that several meetings with officials of the Jonathan administration, including the Ministers of Health as well as that of Labor and Productivity, had failed to persuade the government to address the union’s demands.
“It is sad that, in the president’s home state, the effect is worrisome and has resulted in a rise in deaths of patients due to the strike action and resulting high expenses paid in private hospital for health care,” said Mr. Ubani.
He added that the workers’ demands were in three categories. They include the unconditional and immediate implementation of all collective bargaining agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed with JOHESU and the full implementation of all judgment in favor of JOHESU by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).