Many patients have been left helpless at hospitals across the country following the protracted strike action by health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions.

JOHESU – which draws membership from the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives; Medical and Health Workers Union; Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, among others–had on April 17 announced an indefinite strike.

The union has cited poor remuneration of its workers as the main reason for the strike action and listed some conditions the Federal Government needs to fulfill to enable them end the strike

To call it off to include an upward adjustment of the CONHESS Salary Scale, arrears of skipping of CONHESS 10, and employment of additional health professionals.

Report says that those who visited some hospitals across the country on Friday, observed that several patients were waiting helplessly for the strike action to be called off, while some patients’ families have started relocating their loved ones from the hospitals.

At the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, scores of patients were left stranded.

A patient, who gave his name simply as Nathaniel, said that because of the strike action, his physiotherapy session at the hospital had been put on hold, adding that his child who was also supposed to be immunized at the hospital had not been immunized.

Another patient, Mrs. Blessing Owei, said her health had been deteriorating because of the strike action.

A doctor at the hospital, Dr. Charles Tulagha, confirmed that the strike action had paralyzed activities at the center.

He said because of the strike, doctors couldn’t do anything, however, expressing optimism that it would soon be called off.

At the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, several patients were also left stranded while some patients’ families told Saturday PUNCH that they were already planning to move their loved ones out of the hospital.

It was gathered that doctors at the hospital were only attending to emergency cases even as new patients were no longer being admitted.

But the Chairman of the Resident Doctors Association in the hospital, Dr. Ibikunle Fakorede, said the doctors were still attending to patients, saying that patients with only serious issues were referred to other hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of JOHESU, Mr. Yinka Adedire, has said they have suspended the strike action as the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is ensuring that their demands were given the necessary attention.

 At the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom State also, some patients were left stranded as a result of the strike action.