Patients in public hospitals in Abia have continued to bear the brunt of the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the state.

There was a total compliance with the NMA directive at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) and Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital in Umuahia.

The association in Abia had on December 9, declared a strike but on January 10, declared the strike total and indefinite.

The body announced the strike because of unpaid salary arrears of 25 and 13 months for Abia State University Teaching Hospital and Hospital Management Board workers, respectively.

A patient, Glory Orji, said she travelled from Aba to FMC to receive prompt medical care but was met with disappointment as a result of the strike.

“Health matters are very important and should be treated as such by all concerned, therefore, I call on the government to do the needful,” Mrs Orji said.

Another patient, Fidelis Onuoha, said that he resides in Imo and was at FMC Umuahia for his routine medical check but lamented that doctors were not attending to patients.

Mr Onuoha said the development was worrisome and urged the state government to meet the demands of the doctors because of citizens with health needs.

An expectant mother, Eunice Njoku, appealed to doctors to run skeletal services because of the patients who visit the hospital for emergency medical care.

Mrs Njoku urged the state government to meet the demands of the doctors and bring the strike to an end without further delay.

A physiotherapist, Veronica Ahamefula, said that she brought her sister to the hospital to see a neurologist, but was told that doctors were on strike.

“I appeal to the government to meet the demands of NMA because its members play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of the citizens,” Ms Ahamefula said.

The Protocol Officer of FMC, Darlington Madubuko, said that doctors in FMC joined the strike to show support for their colleagues in Abia hospitals.

Mr Madubuko said the strike was taking its toll on healthcare delivery in the hospital, indicating that patients on admission have been discharged to seek healthcare services elsewhere.

“You can see that everywhere is empty; this is a total strike and I don’t know when it will end,” he said.

Mr Madubuko appealed to the state government to clear the backlog of salaries owed doctors in state-owned health institutions to enable them return to work. 

A visit to the Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital showed that the health facility, which is usually a beehive of activities, was deserted.

A nurse at the hospital, who pleaded anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the hospital was no longer admitting patients.

She said that children’s male and female wards and the Accident and Emergency Unit were empty as result of the doctors’ strike.

Mary Chimahulamiro said that she brought her husband for his regular medical appointment but had to leave the hospital because no doctor would attend to him.

Mrs Chimahulamiro said that the strike had shattered her plans and called on the state government to intervene in order to address the cause of the strike.

The NMA chairman in Abia, Dr Isaiah Abali, said the association had set up a monitoring team to ensure total compliance and sanctions on defaulters.

“The government has kept mute. They have not approached us on this matter and we won’t beg them as our message is this ‘pay us our salaries’.

“If the present administration doesn’t pay us, the strike will continue until a new administration comes on board in the state,” Mr Abali said.

Commissioner for Health, Joe Osuji, said the government had done its best and it was left with the NMA to adequately oblige the efforts of the government. 

Mr Osuji, however, did not say what the government had done afresh since the strike began to warrant a response from the NMA.

“Bringing the strike to an end depends on the NMA,” he said.

(NAN)