Resident doctors at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, Anambra state have lamented unfair treatment by the state government amidst Covid-19 pandemic fight.
The medical personnel who embarked on industrial action on Monday, said they were the worst hit which ocassioned the call by their national body to down tool.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday, the Chapter President, Dr. Obinna Aniagboso said his members were yet to be paid hazard allowance as approved by the Federal Government, as well as other outstanding issues yet to be thrashed out with the State Government.
He wondered why such treatment would be metted out to the frontliners who risk their lives daily, urging the government to channel donations made for COVID-19 to the right purposes they were meant.
He said, “Throughout this period we work every day exposing ourselves to danger and you know the situation in Anambra state. There is increasing number of COVID-19 patients and we have more exposure.
“So, the issue of hazard allowance is not negotiable. May I ask: the money which are donated by philanthropists to government for COVID-19 what are they used for? Yet we work day and night. We have more COVID-19 incidence.
“As it stands now our members hazard allowance, their take home is N10,500 which is unconscionable.”
He attributed the increasing exodus of his members to federally owned hospitals to the discrepancy in salary payment at both federal and state levels.
“The gap between our salaries and those in federal ministries is worrisome. This has not guaranteed job stability in the system. Currently, no fewer than a dozen of our members set to leave for such other hospitals.
“This was part of the reasons that compelled us to proceed on the industrial action called out by the national body because some of the issues highlighted also affected us”
