UNICAL resident doctors resume duty after 3 months strike

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), on Friday returned to work after a three - month strike.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) investigation showed that activities in the hospital were in full swing as doctors were seen attending to patients.

A communiqué signed by Dr Ukweh Ikechukwu, President of ARD, UCTH branch said the strike was suspended on passionate ground.

According to the communiqué, "the strike is hereby suspended on compassionate ground because of the suffering of patients and work is resuming on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015’’.

The doctors had demanded payment of skipping allowances, among others and resolved to reconvene on Oct. 10 to re - appraise the level of implementation by management.

It also demanded that no member of ARD should be victimised on account of the strike.

Meanwhile, some residents of Calabar have expressed relief over the suspension of the strike by the doctors.

A cross section of the residents who bared their minds in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Calabar, said the suspension was a welcome development.

Mr Aniete Ukoh, an engineer told NAN that the suspension of the strike was long overdue and urged relevant authorities to meet the demands of the doctors to avoid future occurrences.

"I advise relevant authorities to do everything possible to meet their demands to avoid them returning to strike, ‘’ Ukoh said.

A pregnant woman, Mrs Irene Uwakwe expressed her happiness, adding that pregnant women who registered in the hospital had been receiving skeletal services since the strike began.