PATIENTS LAMENT AS STRIKING DOCTORS GROUND MEDICAL SERVICES IN ABIA STATE

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Some patients at various government hospitals in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, have cried out over absence of medical doctors following an indefinite strike embarked by members of Nigeria Medical Association in the state.

They made their feelings known when Radio Nigeria visited the Federal Medical Centre and the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital Amachara, Umuahia to ascertain the impact of the strike.

The patients, who were on their regular appointment with their doctors, expressed disappointment for not being attended to.

They appealed to the government to do the needful to ensure that the striking doctors returned to their duty posts, considering the importance of their services to humanity.

In an interview, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Mr. Darlington Madubuko, explained that the medical doctors at the facility were on sympathy strike in solidarity with their colleagues in the state as directed by the Nigeria Medical Association, Abia Chapter to press home their demand.

In telephone chat, the Chairman Nigeria Medical Association Abia State Chapter, Dr. Isaiah Abali, said the government had not shown any concern about the plight of doctors who are on strike allegedly because of two years salaries owed them by the state government.

Meanwhile, Radio Nigeria observed that the premises of the facilities were deserted as the accident and emergency units of both FMC and Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital Amachara were under lock and all patients in the wards discharged.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU