By Asma’u Ahmad
Members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) are yet to resume duties in Lagos state in spite of an order by the National Industrial Court.
The President of the court had on Thursday directed the union to restore normal healthcare services across the nation within 24 hours, following an expert motion filed instituted by an NGO in Abuja.
Newsmen who visited some government owned hospitals in Lagos metropolis report that doctors were the only ones offering full medical services to patients.
At the General Hospital, Marina, Lagos, only doctors were on call duty there were no health workers on ground to attend to patients.
A patient at the hospital, Mrs Lilian Okere, told newsmen that it was family members that were helping to clean patients and the environment.
According to her, she cannot be properly admitted into any ward because there is no health worker to take charge of that, hence still being at the corridors in the Accident and Emergency Unit.
She appealed to JOHESU and Federal Government to speedily resolve the ongoing standoff, as her life and those of other patients were at stake.
It was also gathered that only personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen at the hospital gates.
At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, only doctors and senior nurses were seen working. A check at the Amuwo Odofin Maternal and Child Care Centre also showed that health workers were not on ground.
However, a staff told newsmen that skeletal services were being provided for emergency cases.
At the Maternal and Child Care Centre, Gbaja, Surulere, doctors were seen attending to patients; a few health workers were also seen offering skeletal services to emergency situations.
The state JOHESU Chairman, Mr Olatunji Tajudeen, debunked claims that the health workers strike had been called off.
Tajudeen told newsmen that the Lagos State Government was currently in an ongoing negotiation with the union, which was yet to be concluded.
It would be recall that JOHESU commenced strike on April 17, to demand for improved facilities, and adjustment of CONHESS as done for CONMESS since 2014.
Other demands include the abolition of scale to scale promotion, payment of outstanding arrears of promotion, skipping and relativity, as well as employment of additional health professionals.
They are also demanding for the implementation of court judgments and upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
