Psychiatric Hospital health workers embark on strike

Medical and health workers at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, on Wednesday embarked on a seven-day warning strike in line with the directive given by their national body.

The workers, under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), downed tools in compliance with the June 21 directive from its national secretariat.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JOHESU had directed its members to embark on a seven-day warning strike after its meeting with the Federal Government ended in a deadlock.

A visit to the hospital by NAN Correspondent showed that nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other workers were not seen at their duty posts within the hospital.

They also demanded for the payment of arrears of specialist allowances to qualified hospitals-based health professionals with effect from January 1, 2010.

Other demands include immediate and full payment of arrears of the skipping of CONHESS 10 which had remained outstanding since 2010.

The chairman of JOHESU at the hospital, Mr Eke Uzondu, said that his members had complied with the strike which began at 12.00 a.m., on Wednesday.

``It is only a seven-day warning strike which is not meant to totally paralyse activities at the hospital.

``There are patients in the wards and we will see how we can manage them until the government responds to our demands,`` Uzondu said.

In his comments, the hospital acting Medical Director, Dr Richard Adebayo, said that the management was still negotiating with the workers to seek their understanding on the strike.

``We are engaging them to see how we can provide skeletal services while the strike is on.

``We sympathise with them in their struggle, because they still have to clamour for their needs.

``Meanwhile, residents doctors are still on strike, but the consultants are on ground to attend to our patients,`` he said.