Resident Doctors in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, have suspended its five-day warning strike.
The group said the decision which was taken after an emergency meeting on Friday, was informed by plight of stranded patients in need of critical and emergency care.
The doctors under the aegis of Association of Resident doctors had embarked on a five-day warning strike on Wednesday following assaults on their members by relatives of deceased patients.
President of the group, Dr Ndukwe Chinwe and General Secretary, Dr Egbue Obiora, in a statement on Saturday, said the body unanimously resolved to suspend the strike, resume emergency services by 8am on Saturday and routine clinic services/activities by Monday.
The doctors said they observed the hospital’s management has shown commitment by ensuring the arrest of the culprits and has promised to follow the matter to a logical conclusion.
They also noted the commitment of the hospital towards fulfilling all the other demands outlined by the doctors.
The statement read, “Recall that on January 25, doctors under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi embarked on a five-day warning strike to express displeasure over the assault meted out on one of our members by relatives of a deceased patient, whom the doctor was helping to resuscitate.
“In an emergency general meeting held on Friday, January 27, 2023, the members observed that the hospital management has shown commitment by ensuring the arrest of the culprits and have promised to follow the matter to a logical conclusion.
“The management has began the enforcement of compliance to visiting hours in the wards and has put measures to ensure that patient relatives are not found inside the wards at odd hours. A memo has been issued to that effect.
“The Hospital Management has also reiterated their commitment to fulfill all the other demands outlined by ARD.
“Congress observed the lamentations of patients who could not assess healthcare during the period of the industrial action, since resident doctors make up the bulk of the doctors in the teaching hospital.
“The body unanimously agreed that the hqospital management has shown a quick response to their demands which led to a total shutdown of services offered by Resident Doctors in NAUTH.
“The congress unanimously resolved to suspend the strike, resume emergency services by 8am on Saturday and routine clinic services/activities by Monday 8am.
“Congress also resolved that the exco should continue to engage the hospital management until other demands are met. That any other form of assault on any doctor will be met with stringent measures.
“That a rapid response team be instituted to quickly tackle this menace on the spot in the event of any re-occurrence.”
The group commended the management for its.swift response towards putting measures to forestall future repeat of this condemnable act and ensuring that majority of our demands received the needed attention.
