Doctors, under the umbrella of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, Ogun State Chapter, have commenced a one-week warning strike today to press home their demands.
The association, in a communique issued at the end of its emergency general meeting said the strike became imperative having explored all opportunities to get the attention of the state government on issues affecting the health system in the state.
The communique signed by its chairman and secretary, Dr. Oladunni Adetola and Dr. Adetonwa Festus respectively stated that series of letters had been written to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on the need to restructure health facilities; shortage of staff and relativity.
The association explained that so far the State Government fails to attend to the issues affecting the health sector which include; lack of materials, equipment and good working environment, little or nothing could be achieved in the health sector in the state .
The body also identified shortage of staff across all cadres of the health workers,submitting that there was no new recruitment in the last two to three years,despite the increasing demands on the sector. NAGGMDP also noted with dismay the refusal of the state government to respect a circular by the federal government since 2013 on the need for all states to effect the payment of corrected CONMESS to correct an error of over 20 years on the doctors salary.
It added that the state government has continued using same circular in the last 10 months to pay doctors in the teaching hospital it employed.
