Union raises concern over JOHESU’s strike in JUTH

Worried by the likely lull hanging on the health sector in Jos as a result of the on-going protracted strike embarked upon by members of the Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), medical laboratory scientists under the aegis of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) have said the strike may work “ the provision of the National Health Act, which emphasises accessibility to health services.”

JOHESU members resumed their suspended strike to demand immediate implementation of the agreements it reached with the Federal Government, including the provision of consumables like drugs, laboratory reagents, bed sheets; re-grading of union members and fixing of hospital equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan machines in the hospital.

All efforts by the management of the hospital to end the strike through meetings have ended in deadlock.

The association, which raised its concerns at the end of its National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) held in Makurdi, Benue State, blamed the strike “over the aberrant refusal of the chief executive and management to implement extant circulars and court judgments.”

In a statement signed by the President of the association, Toyosi Raheem and its public relations officer (PRO), Adeyeye Adetunji, the association said: “It is on record that a few days ago, JOHESU members led massive protest to the Plateau State Government house, Plateau State House of Assembly and the Gbong Gwom Jos palace with a clear statement of vote of on the chief medical director (CMD) of the hospital for lacking administrative capacity to lead.”