Health

Health Workers Lament Unpaid Salaries

By Web News 624

The healthcare workers under the Ondo State Government have lamented the non-payment of four months’ salary arrears.

The State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, in separate interviews with newsmen, confirmed they received the January 2022 salary barely two weeks ago.

The NMA Chairman in the State, Dr. Stella Adegbehingbe, said the doctors in the state were working despite not being paid for February, March, April, and May.

Dr. Adegbehingbe said many doctors working in the state health facilities had either travelled abroad to seek greener pastures or gone to the federal-owned hospitals for better and prompt pay.

“We are working despite not being paid; we’ve been on it and that is what is happening in Ondo State, people are working and not being paid.

“This has led to some people leaving the state hospitals for Federal Government hospitals in Lagos and some people have travelled out,” Adegbehingbe said.

Also speaking, the State Secretary of NANNM, Mr. Aina Oluwasegun, confirmed that the nurses only received their January salary barely two weeks ago.

“The nurses are only struggling to survive; for the salary of a civil servant not to be paid is not an easy thing, you know that their financial obligations will not be met.

“If you take a look at the number of nurses in the state before they start owing salary, it has reduced drastically because virtually everybody is struggling to go and get jobs in other places, a lot of people have moved to other countries to seek greener pastures, even those that did not plan that before, the unpaid salary has made everybody willing to go.

“If the situation does not improve, the number of nurses in the state will still drop drastically. Some people never plan to leave the country but the unpaid salary has made them to travel out.”

Mr. Oluwasegun urged the state government to prioritise the health sector.

“We have been trying our best for the government to come to our aid regarding the payment of salary. We have been putting efforts for the government to prioritise the health sector considering the efforts of nurses during the pandemic when every other worker was at home, but there has not been any priority,” he said.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

Health

Ondo NMA Announces Suspension Of Strike After Stakeholders’ Meeting

By Web News 996

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Ondo State chapter, has suspended its strike action forthwith for the sake of the people who can’t afford expensive medical care.

The Ondo State NMA Chairman, Dr. Stella Adegbehingbe disclosed during an interactive session with the Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA, Committee on Health and other stakeholders in Akure.

Dr. Adegbehingbe who lamented that the strike has increased mortality rate due patronage of quack doctors, noted that medical practitioners in the Ondo State would return to work as soon as possible for the interest of the people who are seriously in need of medical attention in government hospitals.

She called on the state government to do needful, by giving attention to the welfare of medical personnel and other health workers for effective health delivery.

Dr. Adegbehingbe also appealed to government to address the challenge of inadequate facilities, training, and shortage of manpower among others.

Addressing the session, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr. Adiodun Falaye appreciated the medical practitioners for keeping to the tenets of their profession.

Dr. Falaye gave assurance that the legislative arm will liaise with the executive in finding a lasting solution to the issue.

Other lawmakers also appreciated the health workers for having genuine human feelings.

Correspondent Olumide Abudu reports that Resident Doctors also attended the intervention meeting. Olumide Abudu