Following the on-going nationwide strike, the Plateau Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has chided some members of the state branch of Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, of tampering with and adulterating reagent in the laboratories.
The doctors also accused the striking health workers of locking up hospital stores and denying those working access to consumables, an indication that the striking health workers were out to sabotage effective healthcare service delivery in the state.
But JOHESU and National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, in a reaction, said they had no issues with NMA but the government, stressing that what was of utmost importance to them at present was the meeting their meeting on Sunday with the state government over the strike.
Speaking in Jos with journalists, Dr. Titus Dajel, the State Acting Chairman of NMA, acknowledged the challenges they were facing in the discharge of their duties but warned that such should not prompt the government to concede to the “frivolous demands” made by JOHESU.
He said, “The public is aware of the ongoing strike by JOHESU. While NMA is not against their struggle, NMA is worried that most of their demands are ill-motivated and a direct challenge on the leadership role of doctors in healthcare delivery.
” No doctor practising in Plateau State is on strike, the public is advised to access these services and stop patronizing quacks and substandard care from the streets.
“We advise that health workers in Plateau State suspend their involvement in the ongoing strike to reciprocate the goodwill of governor of the state who had striven to implement one of the best salary structures for them and has continued to pay their salaries regularly.
“JOHESU officials are advised to refrain from harassing doctors or other health workers willing to work for the benefit of humanity. Doctors are willing to work with everyone in the health sector but a lot of impunity must be checked.
“We have not witnessed any physical attack but there is an act of sabotage as there are reports of some staff adulterating or tampering with reagents in the laboratory and locking of stores and going home with keys to deny those working access to consumables.”
To check the ongoing rivalry between doctors and other health workers, Dajel called on the federal government to “implement the recommendations of the Yayale Ahmed-led committee and consider the possibility of public private partnership in the health sector to address the incessant unrest in the health sector.’
Reacting to the accusation, an official of JOHESU whom pleaded anonymity, said he would not want to compound issues, ahead of the scheduled meeting with the officials of Plateau State government today.
He said, “One will not be surprise to hear this, if they can descend so low to begin to take the position of government
“No one is making any demand on NMA, we have nothing to do with NMA, so we don’t know why they areso worried about the strike.”
Also reacting, Mr. Raphael Maduutdai, state chairman of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, said: “In locking the stores, whoever is in charge of a place will certainly take charge but to say that reagents are being tampered with is just an allegation because it is very unethical for anybody to do anything that will be to the detriment of his profession.
” I don’t think any professional person would do that, I don’t know why NMA is so bothered about this strike. If they want to do their work, they should do it. It is as if they have become government, they are the ones talking for government. “
