COVID-19: Bayelsa wades into state resident doctors’ strike
The Bayelsa state government has initiated measures to end the ongoing resident doctors’ strike at the state-owned Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri.
The doctors said they had yet to suspend their indefinite strike in spite of the suspension of the nationwide action by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Sunday.
State President of the Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Oru Inetsol, said in Yenagoa that the state government was holding talks with the body to resolve the labour dispute.
Inetsol said that resident doctors deployed to the COVID-19 isolation centre were working, following the goodwill so far shown by the state government during the negotiations.
NDUTH hosts the 100-beded COVID-19 isolation centre located on the outskirts of Yenagoa.
“The deputy governor and speaker of the House of Assembly led the government team that met with us on Monday and we are making progress with the negotiations.
“Our grievances are beyond hazard allowances and conditions of service, but stretch into the general health sector. But, we are hopeful of a resolution from the ongoing dialogue,” Inetsol said.
The national leadership of the NARD had on Sunday directed its members across the country to return to work, following Federal Government’s promise to clear outstanding hazard allowances, amongst others.
The rising confirmed cases of COVID-19 to 177 in Bayelsa state with 137 active cases, 29 recoveries and 11 deaths, with less than 200-beded isolation centres has raised concerns of an impending crisis in the days ahead.
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At the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, normalcy had gradually returned as many patients were seen receiving medical attention at different units.
President of ARD in the hospital, Dr. Ebidimie-Divine Irole, revealed that doctors had returned to work and that normalcy was gradually returning to the facility.
“We have all resumed work and you can see that patients are gradually returning to the hospital and receiving services. We are optimistic that the federal government would reciprocate the gesture and offset the hazard allowances as pledged,” Irole said.
