The Nigerian Medical Association has berated the Joint Health Sector Unions for shutting health facilities and seizing medical equipment in order to prevent doctors from attending to patients.
The NMA in a statement by its President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, called on JOHESU to stop acting like thugs even as it advised the Federal Government not to meet the union’s unrealistic demands.
It called on Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in government owned health facilities to ensure that doctors were given full protection from the desperate health workers.
The statement read in part, “The striking allied health workers have resorted to undue brigandage and desperate antics in an attempt to prevent our members from offering healthcare services to Nigerians.
“They now lock up clinical service points and equipment thereby making it difficult for our members to operate smoothly within the hospital environment, and other disruptive acts including thuggery.
We call on the CMDs/MDs of government owned health facilities to provide adequate security for Doctors and contract staff who are currently offering services within the hospitals.
“The lies being peddled by JOHESU regarding our members’ emoluments is an attempt to hoodwink the public against Nigerian doctors.”
The NMA praised the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, for directing heads of government hospitals to ensure service delivery during this trying period.
It, however, described as unfortunate demands by JOHESU for the minister’s sacking.
The doctors also lambasted the union for accusing the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr.Chris Ngige, of incompetence.
It added, “We observe with dismay the maligning of the ministers of health and that of labour by JOHESU, calling them all sorts of uncomplimentary names, and the call by JOHESU for the removal of the minister of health.
“This act of rascality, disregard for these two offices and the call for the removal of the minister of health, have finally exposed their motive for disrupting the progress recorded in the ministry of health in the last three years of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
“One wonders if the salary of JOHESU members is all that the health ministry is about. We, therefore, call on the Federal Government and its representatives including the minister of health and that of labour not to be distracted but continue to stand with the truth and international best practices in ensuring the improvement of the Health indices of Nigerians.”
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