Patients at the Lagos University Teaching
Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, are counting their
ordeals as resident doctors’ indefinite strike enters
the fourth week. Reporters who visited the hospital on Wednesday
reports that only few consultants were seen
attending to many patients. The National Association of Resident Doctors
(NARD) had on Oct.1 directed its members
nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike. The NARD President, Dr Jibril Abdullahi, said that the
strike was to protest poor funding of residency
training. The other categories of health workers –
consultants, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory
technicians and cleaners – were seen attending to
patients. One of the patients, Mrs Dolapo Afolabi, told NAN
that the strike was taking worsening the conditions
of patients. She regretted that strike by health workers had
become incessant. Afolabi urged that strike by health workers should
be avoided in the interest of patients. “Strike is taking place too often in our hospitals; this
is very dangerous because people’s lives are
involved,’’ she said. Another patient, Alhaji Ibrahim Amodu, told NAN
that he came from Ikorodu to keep an appointment
with a specialist. Amodu appealed to the striking doctors and the
Federal Government to reach an agreement. Miss Nkiruka Eloho said that she was used to the
services of the teaching hospital because they
were cheap. Eloho regretted that she had been unable to see
her doctor since last week because of long queues
of patients waiting for few consultants. “I came here very early this morning but yet to see
a doctor. Consultants are attending to those with
critical conditions. “It is likely that I will not see a doctor today again. “I do not like to visit private hospitals where I may
not get a specialist. Also, their services are
expensive. ”The strike is depriving us access to doctors to look
after our health,” she said. Mr Femi Samuel told NAN: “I spent the whole
Tuesday without seeing a doctor because only few
senior doctors were working. “I decided to come early today, hoping that I would
see a doctor to attend to me in time, but it is still the
same story.” The President of the LUTH chapter of NARD, Dr
Emeka Ugwu, said that the strike was still on. “During the emergency NEC meeting of NARD held
on Oct.7, members were dissatisfied with the
Federal Government’s position on our demands. “As a result, we have to continue with the
nationwide strike,” he said. www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/doctors-strike-take-toll-luth-patients/

Well I think the strike is a right course at a wrong time. We are yet to train new good doctors at our ASUUfied universities and these old ones want further training at this moment. Doesn't say much about being considerate as doctors.