The Nigerian health institutions have done little or nothing in recent times to improve the provision of quantitative medical care in the country with Lassa fever and other diseases ravaging the landscape, yet again, the health workers are going on industrial action as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has directed members in all federal health institutions across the country to commence indefinite strike today.
This strike was necessitated by the Federal Government’s failure to implement an agreement signed with the unions on September 30, 2017.
“All federal government health institutions in Nigeria including federal medical centres, specialists’ hospitals, orthopedic hospitals, psychiatric hospitals among others will be the first to shut down. If the government allows the strike to continue after two weeks, all the states and local government health institutions will now join,” the National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Ogbonna Chimela, told newsmen on Monday.
JOHESU comprises five health sector unions namely: Medical and Health Workers Unions of Nigeria (MHWUN); National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM); Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAM); Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutes (NASU).
JOHESU also urged states and local government health institutions to be on standby, as they continued sensitization and mobilization of members to possible join the industrial action, in the event government delays in attending to its demands.
JOHESU had suspended a nationwide action last year, after signing a Memorandum of Terms of Settlement slated, which was to be implemented within five weeks.
