CMD urges striking health workers to resume work

AS the effect of the two-and-half months old strike by health workers continue to bite harder, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Dr. Dapo Sotiloye has asked members of the public to join the government in appealing to the workers to resume work in the interest of the suffering patients and the nation.

    The workers, comprising nurses, labouratory scientists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and administrative officers among others have been on strike since November 20 last year over what they described as their inadequate welfare package. 

   All appeals by both the Federal and State governments for the workers to have a change of heart have not yielded any positive result.

  As a result all the States and Federal governments owned hospitals have been shut and patients who cannot afford the cost of private hospitals’ services have resigned to fate.

    Adetiloye, addressing a Press Conference in Abeokuta yesterday stated “I want to use this opportunity to make passionate appeal to members of the public to urge the stricking health workers to call off the strike in the interest of the nation”.

  “There is need to understand that health care is a team work and for this to go well, it is important that there is harmony and peace in the health sector”, he affirmed.

   Adetiloye recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had already setup

a “Powerful Presidential Committee” of experts to look into the issues raised by all the unions in the health sector and proffer solutions.

   He regretted that “It is now almost becoming a cyclical routine where health sector unions take turn to go on strike”.

   The CMD pleaded with the workers to resume work not only in the interest of the sick but also because among other things, negotiation was still going on between the government and the workers. 

   Besides, he said the federal government is concerned about the welfare of all its citizens.