Ondo NMA Threatens Strike Over Outstanding Allowances, Dearth Of Doctors, Gives Seven Days Ultimatum

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has given the State Government seven days ultimatum to implement the approved hazard allowance and address other critical challenges facing health sector.

This is the highlight of Communique issued at the end of an Ordinary General Meeting of the Association, lin Akure.

In the communique signed by the State Chairman, Dr Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe and the State Secretary, Dr Adeayo Omotehinse, Ondo NMA noted with concern the continuous shortage of manpower and modern medical equipment at various State hospitals.

Dr Adeyemi-Osowe who read the Communique, listed other issues as failure to pay members the hazard allowance, low employment entry point and poor salary structure compare to other neighbouring states.

The NMA Chairman who lamented that doctors in the state are still earning ridiculous five thousand naira as hazard allowance, said there are only 22 resident doctors at UNIMED teaching hospital compared to the previous figure of 150 resident doctors before.

He said the decaying condition of the state health sector, has forced many doctors out of the state service while new ones are not interested in working with the Ondo State government.

“The congress also resolved to give an ultimatum of seven days to the Government of Ondo State to implement the approved hazard allowance. This being the lowest hanging fruits.

“That failure to implement this after the expiration of the seven days, the relative industrial harmony in the state health sector shall no longer be guaranteed. The Congress shall reconvene after the expiration of the stated period to chart a way forward.

“The OGM enjoins the state government to resolve the issues of non-availability of equipment at some critical units in our teaching hospital UNIMEDTHC (The CT scan is non-functional for over 12months, no ventilators at the ICU) etc.

“The Congress would like to plead with opinion leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, stakeholders and all Ondo state residents interested in a healthy Ondo state to prevail on our government to declare state of emergency in Ondo state health sector with the aim of proffering effective measures and solutions to the sector’s numerous challenges to achieving a healthy, prosperous and peaceful Ondo state.”