A two month strike by resident doctors of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), has been called off.
Calling off the strike, the doctors citied intervention from Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and pleas from state government, among others.
In a statement issued in Awka and signed by the chairman and secretary Dr Obinna Aniagboso and Dr Chidiebele Egolum respectively, the group said its decision to call off the strike was arrived at during its emergency meeting held on Monday, July 15.
It reminded the public that the industrial action which commenced on 13th May 2019 was due to the failure of the state government to honor it’s agreement to implement full CONMESS for doctors and upgrade diagnostic facilities as befitting of a tertiary health center.
The group said that there had been a concensus by all concerned parties that the resident doctors’ struggle is just and therefore the need to address their challenges in order to retain trained experienced personnel and improve the standard of clinical services in the hospital.
However, as the strike progressed, there was request by Governor Willie Obiano for a suspension to give government a little time to complete the ongoing personnel audit and financial analysis, it said.
The group also said it took cognizance of the resolution of the NMA leadership and elders meeting which advised it to suspend the strike for one month along with the medical and dental consultants association of Nigeria (MDCAN).
Thirdly, it said the group considered the plight of the patients under their care who have become stranded and deprived of quality care throughout the protracted industrial action.
The statement added that the resident doctors accept the concessions made by the management on internal issues bordering on conditions of service and witheld remuneration, and intend to cooperate to ensure its full implementation.
It regretted that while the strike lasted, some people infused politics into it, attempting to use its members to achieve personal ambitions.
Given all the considerations, the resident doctors decided to resume work yesterday morning though still pursuing their objectives#
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