Some patients in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi have expressed worry over the on-going strike action by the health workers, urging the Federal Government to meet the demands of the striking workers.
It recalls that the health workers under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) had on September 14, embarked on seven days warning strike to press home their demands.
The union demands include structural and infrastructural decay in the nation’s health sector, the review of the implementation of COVID-19 special inducement and hazard allowance among others.
Mrs Mercy Okoro, a patient told reporters on Friday that the strike was worrisome and urged the Federal and the workers to resolve issues and end the strike.
"Though, I am an outpatient, I was supposed to go for a surgery but due to the strike it was not carried anymore, I am worried," Okoro said.
Mrs Amaka Chima, the pregnant woman urged the both parties to embrace dialogue for the interest of patients in the hospitals.
"Strike is not good for health sector, especially now that the country is battling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The government should always be proactive and not to wait until health workers resort to strike before responding to their demands," she advised.
Mr Ifeanyi Ogbuani, Chairman of JOHESU in the hospital said the strike was a warning and reminder and if the government refuses to attend to us, we think for the next sction.
Mr Okeke Obiefuna, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) chapter of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, said members are fully in support of the strike.
Obiefuna, Laboratory Scientist urged the government to fulfil promises to members to avoid setback in the health sector.
"Well, the success of strike will not measured by the number of persons, who died during the process; off course, health workers are not calous, we normally attend to critical cases.
"Aside from the critical cases, we urge the patients to bear with us because a happy worker is an efficient worker.
"It is very painful for me because I don’t like a strike. I don’t even like the idea of people leaving their work, especially in the health sector.
"We have a duty to save lives and not to destroy them," he stated
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