By Toyeebat Anifowose The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced an indefinite nationwide strike action.
This is contained in a communique issued by the association after a virtual national executive council meeting.
The council resolved to exempt members attending to covid-19 patients at designated isolation centres for two weeks after which they will be co-opted to join the strike if the situation remains the same.
The association stated that the exemption is to acknowledge the intervention of the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman House Committee on Health and other stakeholders.
The association explained that the resolution to embark on the strike is predicated on numerous demands which the government has refused to meet up with.
Some of which include; the lack of adequate personal protective equipment for all healthcare workers, the universal implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all federal and state hospitals and ensuring equal pay among doctors within the same cadre.
The association also demands the immediate implementation of the revised Hazard Allowance and payment of the Covid-19 inducement allowance as agreed with by the government and healthcare workers three months ago.
The associated further solicits the provision of funding for Medical Residency Training in the 2021 Appropriation bill, the payment of all arrears owed members by the federal and state tertiary health institutions arising as a result of the increment in the national minimum wage.
According to the association, all salary cuts suffered by members particularly in Kaduna state and other states should be immediately stopped and the state governments should make a refund to the affected members.
The health workers appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to adress these issues as soon as possible by calling relevant agencies to order.
The association further appealed to members of the public to understand that the resolution is an effort to save the health sector which it described as almost dead.
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