JOHESU STRIKE SUSPENSION: FEDERAL HOSPITALS IN ENUGU RESUME FULL MEDICAL SERVICES

Patients in some federal health institutions in Enugu State want the Federal Government to address issues that led to incessant strikes by health workers in the country.

They made their feelings known when Radio Nigeria monitored the resumption of work by members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), following the suspension of their industrial action.

When Radio Nigeria visited the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla Enugu at about 11 in the morning, workers were seen in their numbers in clusters discussing about the ended strike.

No patient was seen at the four wards visited; only nurses on duty and cleaners who were tidying the places were there.

At the Medical Out Patient Clinic, few patients were seen waiting to be attended to while at the Pediatric Clinic, doctors were attending to patients.

One of the patients at the Medical Out Patient Clinic, an aged woman, who did not want her name mentioned, condemned the long time it took the government and workers to come to terms and described strike as an ill wind that blew no one any good.

Others including,James Aliyi and Odinaka Ani said they had undergone hardship during the strike and expressed joy with the suspension.

The Union members later gathered at a venue where the Chairman, Comrade Gilbert Nwadukwe explained to them the reasons for suspending the strike, including the Industrial Court judgment.

At the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, two spinal cord injury patients at the Male Ward, Chijioke Ugwa and Alex Ewuzie expressed sadness over the loss of one of them during the strike saying that the absence of nurses during the strike was an unpleasant experience.

Also a visit to the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu also indicated that normal medical services had resumed in the health facility.

EZINWANNE OKWUOLISA