The ongoing strike action by state and local government workers in Niger has paralysed the state’s healthcare delivery system.

A correspondent who monitored the situation in the Minna, Suleja, and Kontagora general hospitals, reports that patients at the hospitals in Minna and the neonatal maternal hospital were evicted from the hospitals.

Relatives of patients with the means have transferred them to private hospitals while those who could not are patronising healing homes or herbal centres.

Speaking on the difficulty the ongoing strike is inflicting on residents of Minna and other major towns in the state, a senior healthcare provider at Minna General Hospital, who sought anonymity, said the skeletal services provided by management staff is not impacting on the need of patients and their relations.

“Patients are suffering especially those who cannot afford the services of private practitioners.

“The government should do the needful in order to restore normal health services across the State in Government hospitals,” the source said.

The source further noted that some health officials do not want the strike to end soon because they are smiling to the banks.

“Some of my colleagues will not want this strike to end soon because the fact remains that some of them are the proprietors of some of the Private hospitals currently making brisk business.”

Meanwhile, organised Labour in Niger has transmitted its two-week warning strike to an indefinite strike action following the breakdown of negotiations with government officials.

Last week, the state government shifted ground by ceding to some of the demand like the refund of the 30 per cent salary deductions in 2020.

Governor Abubakar Bello had agreed to commence the payment of the suspended retired civil servants gratuities by accepting to set aside N200 million monthly to liquidate the outstanding arrears.

However, the major area of contention is the percentage payment of local government workers salaries which labour insisted must be restored.

(NAN)