Health workers set to down tools tonight after moves to reach agreement with government fails

NIGERIAN health workers are poised to begin a nationwide strike as from midnight following the inability of the government and the Joint Health Sector Union (Johesu) to reach an agreement.

Currently representing about 95% of Nigerian health workers, Johesu had presented a list of the demands to the government outlining its problems but so far the two sides have been unable to reach a deal on resolving them. Johesu president Josiah Biobelemoye, said that consequently, the union would embark on an indefinite nationwide strike by midnight tonight.

Mr Biobelemoye alleged that the union members had been treated as slaves by the health minister Professor Isaac Adewole. He added that the minister failed to implement the agreement reached by the union with the federal government on September 30, 2017.

According to Mr Biobelemoye, the implementation of the agreement was supposed to begin five weeks after it was signed as was done for medical doctors. He said he regretted the fact that the union’s demands were always taken for granted.

“We are committed to ensuring peace in the sector hence for the past three years we resisted strike but we should not be forced to withdraw the peace. Help us to tell government that all we are saying is equity, justice and peace," Mr Biobelemoye said.

Patricia Etteh,, the chairman, of the board of the National Hospital, Abuja, however, appealed to union officials to shelve the proposed strike in the interest of the people. She urged the union to consider the plight of the masses, who always suffered more during such actions in the health sector.

“In the event of strike in health sector, the poor always bear the burden as they cannot afford access to healthcare in private hospitals in Nigeria and abroad. However, the rich will not mind as a lot of them travel abroad to receive the desired healthcare services," Ms Etteh added.

She decried the poor attention by government to the nation’s health sector and welfare of health workers in the country. Ms Etteh called for greater attention to the sector and health workers, saying that they deserved prompt and priority attention by government.

 “The health sector is one particular area that should receive prompt and adequate response because when the people are healthy, it will reflect on the nation’s economy. If healthcare providers are not properly taken care of, they will not be able to give the desired medical attention and care to patients,” Ms Etteh added.

A former speaker of the House of Representatives, Ms Etteh also urged the government to look into the requisite entry qualification of health workers in the country. She said that the measure would help to ensure a more efficient healthcare delivery for patients.