By Asmau Ahmad
Prof. Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said on Friday that the hospital lost N1 billion over incessant strikes by various health workers in 2014 till date. Alonge disclosed this while addressing a news conference on Friday in Ibadan.
“We lost about N400 million in July and August during the NMA strike and since the commencement of the JOHESU strike, Oct. till date, the institution have lost over N600 million,’’ he said. The CMD also appealed to JOHESU members to return to work while they continue to dialogue with the Federal Government.
He said that the number of deaths was on the increase during the period, appealing to the striking workers to restore normal services to enable other health personnel to offer their duties.
“Although the striking workers do attend to emergency services, but many more lives will probably have been saved if the strike has not been.
“We also have not suffered blackout when electricity was taken by PHCN because our engineering staff have been on ground.
“We appreciate the JOHESU for the human face deployed when the occasion arises,’’ he said.
Alonge, however, appealed to the federal government to address the demands of the health workers to prevent further loss of lives and revenue.
