The protesters faulted attitudes of the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, toward the demands of the doctors, alleging that the political class is deliberately shutting down the public health sector as a form of "coup" against good health of the public.
In what they branded as a solidarity move to save the collective health sector, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), medical students, and resident doctors converged at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, protesting the suspension of residency training and the sacking of all resident doctors.[slideshow]34544[/slideshow]
The protesters faulted attitudes of the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, toward the demands of the doctors, alleging that the political class is deliberately shutting down the public health sector as a form of "coup" against good health of the public.
They dismissed insinuations that their strike action was over an increase in salaries.
"If they are certain they have put quality health system on ground in the country, let them all then stop going abroad for frivolous health check-ups," Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Lagos State, Dr. Tope Ojo, said during the protest. "We challenge them to show us their cards that they patronize LUTH, for instance."
Joining the protest this morning, medical students said they are in support of demands of the doctors, whom they said are underpaid but over-worked.
NMA dismissed insinuations that their strike action was over an increase in salaries.
[story_link align="left"]34495[/story_link]