BREAKING: Resident doctors begin indefinite strike nationwide, calls for boycott of Covid-19 patients

The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) on Monday embarked on a nationwide strike as its 14-day ultimatum has expired.

The National President of NARD, Aliyu Sokomba, had last week said the association would embark on a strike following the Federal Government’s inability to meet its demands.

NARD said in a circular last week that, “Consequent upon the 14 days ultimatum duly served the Federal Government for indefinite strike action, in accordance with the resolution of the Ordinary General Meeting of the Association on the May 29, we hereby notify you that all resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of Principal Medical Officer and House Officers across all the Federal and State hospitals in Nigeria, shall be embarking on a total and indefinite strike action effective 12:01 am on Monday, 15th June 2020.

“It is important that you make alternative arrangements for the care of the patients as the strike shall be total and indefinite.

“No service of any kind, be it emergency, care at COVID-19 isolation and treatment centres shall be exempted. We sympathize with the patients and the Nigerian populace.

“For purpose of clarity, the demands on which the ultimatum was predicated include the following; Provision of grossly inadequate appropriate Personal Protective Equipment for all health care workers; Immediate reversal of the illegal disengagement of all 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the payment of all salaries owed them, in keeping with provisions of the Medical Residency Training Act,” the statement added.

Details later…