The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has suspended its two weeks old nationwide strike following its suspension of its planned nationwide protest over its unmet demands.
NARD’s national president, Dr. Emeka Orji, told newsmen on Friday evening that the decision to call off the strike followed a resolution by the NARD’s National Executive Council to allow government some more time to meet the association’s outstanding demands having considered the headways recorded in its series of meetings with the government.
Dr. Orji stated that Doctors are expected to resume work by 8am Saturday, August 12, 2023. According to the NARD’s President, the progress reached with the federal government with regards to the association’s pending demands will be reviewed in two weeks time.
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Mr Orji noted that the doctors have eight demands, one of which is recruitment of more doctors to replace those that have migrated out of the country and those that have passed away. He stressed that the current shortfall in the number of engaged doctors has been exacerbated by high medical brain drain in the country.
“Our members are suffering. Nigerians are suffering too. When you don’t have the right number of doctors in the hospital, there is no way it is not going to affect the healthcare service delivery system. And nobody has come out to tell us that what we are saying is not true,” he maintained.
“The government on its own set up a ministerial committee that came up with a guideline since February this year, why hasn’t that guideline been circularised?” he asked.
The General Secretary of NARD, Dr. Chekezie Kelechi, noted that the meeting the association held at the presidential villa on Tuesday and the one it had with the senate were quite fruitful as they raised a glimmer of hope.
Dr. Kelechi added that the ongoing visible effort of the government to implement the payment of the medical residency training fund is another salient factor that has informed the decision of the association to call off its strike.
“For the payment of the medical residency training fund, the government has not just approved it but has gone ahead to cash back that and the processes have started.
“We have reviewed the situation. The National Executive Council of NARD met again today and after looking at the issues at hand and progress made so far, we felt it was time to back down a little and allow the government to solve the outstanding issues,” Dr. Chikezie Kelechi said.
NARD declared an indefinite strike action on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, over several unmet demands including an increase in the salaries of its members and the implementation of the payment of the medical residency training fund.
Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Declares Indefinite Strike Over Unmet Demands