From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, Dr. Stephen Hwande, has called on the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), BSUTH branch, to call off their 21 days warning strike, saying the action is unnecessary.
Hwande who made the call while addressing newsmen in his office in Makurdi, urged the doctor to return to work and give the Government some time to attend to their requests.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0’); });
He said “What is the hurry to go on strike for what is not arrears yet. Let us be in agreement that issues of 2025 in August is not what should necessitate strike. Why go on a strike at a time when people are being killed, the last killing being on Monday.”
He reminded them of their agreement with the state government and urged them to rescind their plan following the magnanimity of Governor Hyacinth Alia who released over N900,000,000 to clear their outstanding arrears recently.
He stated that both the hospital management and the Benue State Government remain committed to the welfare of workers in the health sector.
He acknowledged that the strike has disrupted some aspect of health services in the hospital but assured the public that key units at the hospital like the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit, General Out Patient Department, (GOPD), the VIP SMART Clinic and some wards fully operational.
The Chief Medical Director said the hospital in the interim has engaged services of Medical Officers and consultants to address the staffing shortage caused by the strike to ensure continued service delivery to the public.
“Management of the hospital is working with the state government to address the demands of the Resident Doctors and find a resolution to the matter, the CMD described the decision by the Doctors to embark on an indefinite strike as hasty and unnecessary.
“Government is already engaging with the Doctors to address the issues that led to the strike action, saying the process of paying the Residency Training Fund has commenced and urged the Doctors to suspend the strike in the interest of the public”, he said.
He commended the efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia in the health sector particularly the releases of over N800 million for payment of all outstanding arrears including death benefits for staff of the hospital and commended him for implementing the new consolidated salary structure for other Medical Doctors and health workers in the state.
The Association of Resident Doctors Benue State University Teaching Hospital branch had Monday commenced an infinite strike over issues relating to the two thousand and twenty five Medical Residency Training Fund and other unresolved demands.
The post Resident doctors’ strike in Benue needless – CMD, Hwande appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
