Guardian

ACTIVITIES at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital  (LUTH) were partially brought to a halt Wednesday as doctors under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) continued their indefinite strike.

However, the doctors will be meeting today to review the indefinite industrial action that started on Tuesday over alleged excessive taxation by the hospital. When The Guardian visited the premises yesterday, some nurses where seen offering drugs to a few patients that were still covered by their doctor’s prescriptions, while two doctors rendered selective services to some patients on humanitarian grounds.

One of the doctors said: “The patient called me on phone. She is in my care and if I don’t see her she will relapse quickly and at high risk of dying. Yes, we are on strike, but I have to come for her sake.”

According to one of the caregivers, Samson Onuoabia, “it is a shame on the government and everyone involved in this strike that doctors are going on strike over tax cut, leaving sick people in a government hospital to die like chickens. That is the sign that this government does not just care about us.

“This is the hospital meant for the common people, government officials and rich people don’t come here because they know that it has very little to offer. For several days that we have been here, power supply has never been regular. Now the doctors are on indefinite strike. It is an indictment on the government and so unfair on the poor masses.”

He pleaded with the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, to intervene and ensure that the warring parties sheathe the sword for the sake of the stranded patients and their families.

President of ARD, Dr. Adetunji Adenekan, said the concerned authority had not given any positive response but that the ARD members would decide the next line of action today.