LUTH not on strike, protest baseless, says CMD

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Prof. Chris Bode, has affirmed that the hospital was never on strike as claimed in some quarters, describing the recent protest carried out by a group of agitators at the hospital as baseless.

He affirmed that the hospital was open to patients and fully operational and not on strike as claimed by some reports.

Bode while briefing journalists on the recent protest by a group of workers of the hospital, said LUTH was being run efficiently to deliver healthcare services to the people, adding that over 3,000 workers of the hospital were at their duty posts.

“I would therefore, like to assure the general public, especially our patients, their relatives, clients and aspiring clients that LUTH is up and running and efficiently so.

It is important to let you know that we did not stop work at anytime. Despite unsuccessful attempts by a group of disgruntled elements to disrupt our operations, our staff stood resolutely against forces of retrogression,” he said.

The CMD however explained that two days ago, “About a dozen workers of this institution tried to infiltrate the clinical space with miscreants and cause mayhem within the hospital.

“Allegations made by this group are either baseless or with ulterior motives, but we will continue to work.”

Bode therefore appealed to those who are hell-bent on service disruption to obey extant rules of engagement which recognised hospitals as “Essential Services Facilities” and all hospital workers as essential service workers.

He said the Police was invited in good faith to secure lives of over 500 patients in the various wards and dismissed allegations that one nurse serves 28 patients in the hospital.

Bode said the management had ensured that there were no strikes over the last nine months following implementation of government’s no work, no pay rule.

He said LUTH is embarking on service delivery, and recently carried out successful open heart surgeries for eight persons.