Health Workers Strike: Patients Narrate Ordeals

ONE week after nationwide strike by the Joint Health Sector Union, (JOHESU), investigation reveals that most of the general hospitals are yet to commence full operation, though their managements assured that work would resume soon.

     For instance, a visit to Gbagada General Hospital revealed that centre is yet to admit new patients after the strike, while those who had been admitted before the strike are allowed to stay, though without proper care.

   One of security personnel in the hospital, who pleaded anonymity, informed that nurses and physicians have not started admitting patients, rather they only treat patents, who have less serious condition and ask them to go home. He further said that some patients with critical situation were asked to go home and manage the situation. 

    A patient, Sule Usman, who was involved in motor accident, informed that he was treated at the General Hospital at Toll Gate, along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, but was directed to come to Gbagada general hospital for further treatment. 

    “When I came here (Gbagada General Hospital), I was stranded because nobody accepted the letter issued to me from the former hospital I was first treated. I came very early in the morning and submitted my letter to receptionist, but she returned it back to me and said there’s nobody to treat me. I had motor accident three days ago and I have been treated for once now; I need to dress the injuries because I’m feeling serious pains,” he said.

      Mrs. Kola Oyewo, another patient, said she was to go to private hospitals, but her husband says that he does not have enough money.

     Lamenting over the situation, her husband said, “my wife has been suffering from kidney problem and doctors said it has affected her lungs. I pray it does not lead to surgery because I’m just a painter and she is a hairdresser. We have three children and I don’t know what will become our fate since nurses are not at work.”

   However, other patients have decided to brave the situation by continuing with their regimen by some doctors, with their relatives serving as caregivers. 

    “We manage the situation; we have been here for more than three months now. The drugs are there, so we will be giving our daughter drugs as prescribed by doctors; the doctors are still working,” Sam Godwin, a relative of a patient Sam Gowin said.