26th July, 2023
By Jethro Ibileke
Resident doctors in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on Wednesday joined the nationwide strike declared by the national body of the Association.
The national leadership of ARD had called on its members across the country to withdraw their services due to the Federal Government’s inability to meet their welfare demands and address other sundry issues.
The body had on 17 May, 2023, embarked on a five-day warning strike which was called off on Monday, 22 May, 2023.
The requests sought for by the doctors include the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) should be reviewed in line with full salary restoration and based on previous communications with the
government.
President of the ARD, UBTH chapter, Dr David Orhewere, said the association’s National Executive Council (NEC), directed all members to proceed on an indefinite strike effective from 12 am on Wednesday.
He said the strike is total, adding that all resident doctors had been told to facilitate transfer of patients to the various unit consultants.
“The strike commenced at 12am today. We didn’t protest but we are staying away from performing our duties. Essentially, today, we are handling the patients to the consultants so that we can go home,” he said.
Orhewere who maintained that they have downed tools, blamed the federal government’s refusal to implement agreements despite several attempts to amicably resolve the lingering issue.