From Maiharaji Altine Gusau
Patients have deserted hospitals in Zamfara state, following an indefinite strike embarked upon by medical doctors.
The doctors have embarked on an indefinite strike, following the none implementation of their new hazzard and call duty allowances by state government .
According to the doctors, the allowances were approved since 2011 by the administration of former Governor Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi and up to date there was no implementation.
The doctors, under the auspices of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Zamfara state branch have written a letter to the state government, giving 21 day ultimatum to implement the new allowances or face strike action but failed to do so.
In letter signed by the association’s chairman, Dr. Sanusi Bello and the secretary, Dr. Murtala Mohammed which was addressed to the Executive Chairman Health Services Management Board, the doctors said they would not suspend the strike until their demands were met.
The leader reads, “Pursuant to the letter submitted to your office on the 25/11/2020, which was met with an appeal for a 21 day extension of an ultimatum and failure to resolve the issue particularly bothering on the establishment circular 2011 (EST/ZMS/SUB/531/26) which has not reflected in the November salaries print out.
The Association wishes to notify you of its withdrawal of service by her members from all general hospitals across the state indefinitely from 12 o’clock am of 30-11-2020.
When contacted for comment, the Chairman, Health Services Management Board, Alhaji Mustapha Anka said, the government has worked out modalities to address the issue.
He said, the state government would soon implement the new hazzard and call duty allowances as demanded by the medical doctors.
A visit to some hospitals in the state by The Punch has shown that, health services were at standstill, while many patients have left the hospitals as there was no doctor to attend to them.
