Resident doctors of the Anambra State-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
University Teaching Hospital(COOUTH) Awka, have suspended their
two-month strike.
The general congress of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) COOUTH in
a statement signed by the president and secretary of the association,
Obinna Aniagboso and Chidiebele Egolum, respectively, said the strike
was suspended for a month to enable more arbitration.
The doctors commenced their strike on 13th May 2019 due to the failure
of the state government to honour its agreement to implement full
Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS for doctors and upgrade
diagnostic facilities in the hospital as befitting of a tertiary health
centre.
The statement read in part, “We noted the request of His Excellency
(Governor Willie Obiano) for ARD (Association of Resident Doctors) to
suspend its strike in order to give the government a little time to
complete the ongoing personnel audit and financial analysis.
“We also took cognizance of the resolution of the NMA leadership and
elders’ meeting which advised ARD to suspend the strike for one month
along with the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria,
MDCAN.
We considered the plight of our teeming patients who have become
stranded and deprived of quality care throughout our protracted
industrial action.
“We also accepted the concessions made by management on internal issues
bordering on conditions of service and withheld remuneration, and intend
to cooperate to ensure its full implementation.”
The statement added, “Considering the foregoing, the general congress
passed a resolution to suspend its industrial action for one month and
to resume work on Wednesday 17th July 2019 by 8:00 a.m.
“We take this bold step in good faith with the expectation that the
state government and management of COOUTH will not relent on their end
until our agreed objectives are fully actualized,”