Resident doctors begin nationwide strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria today commenced an indefinite  nationwide strike.

NARD President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, disclosed this in Abuja, during a press briefing on decisions taken at the virtual extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NARD on Sunday.

He said that the virtual meeting was held to review the 14 days ultimatum issued to government which elapsed two days ago,

Dr. Sokomba, however announced that  doctors treating COVID-19 patients at various treatment and isolation centres  in different parts of the country are exempted from the strike.

He said  the exemption was in recognition of the intervention of Chairman House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Tanko Sanunu, and other stakeholders and a demonstration of NARD’s goodwill to the country.

The NARD President  appealed  to Nigerians to bear and understand with the association, adding that  that the resident doctors’  demands had to do with provision of adequate personal protective equipment for all healthcare workers.

 Other demands, he said,  include: “ universal implementation of medical residency training act in all federal and state hospitals and ensuring pay parity among doctors of equal cadre, provision of funding of medical residency training in the 2021 appropriation bill.

“Immediate implementation of the revised hazard allowance and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance agreed with the government and healthcare workers three months ago.

“Stoppage and immediate refund of all illegal, unjust and callous cut in salaries of our members by Kaduna State and other state governments.

 “As difficult as a strike is on everyone, our present predicament is far worse; we sympathize with the patients and Nigerian populace,” Sokomba said.