COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT
THE END OF ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS,
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ITUKU OZALLA, ENUGU STATE, WHICH HELD
ON MONDAY 10TH AUGUST, 2015 AT THE RESIDENT DOCTORS’ COMMON ROOM.
The Association of Resident Doctors of the University of
Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla (ARD UNTH) held her Ordinary General
Meeting (OGM) on Monday 10th August, 2015 at the Resident Doctors’
Common Room and observed as follows:
1)
That
ARD UNTH commenced indefinite and total withdrawal of services since 3rd
July, 2015, which is over 5 weeks now, protesting the injustices being meted
out on Doctors and patients in UNTH and refusal by the Hospital Management to
implement directives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
2)
The
Congress appreciates the efforts of the Hospital Management led by Dr C. C.
Amah in trying to resolve the industrial dispute but observes that this is
clearly and grossly insufficient.
3)
That
the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health in two Circulars with
reference numbers C.2262/T/111 and C.2262/T/109 dated 29th July,
2015, clearly directed the Chief Medical Directors to place Doctors
appropriately in obedience to Industrial Court Judgment of 2013 and subsequent
Federal Government Circular with reference number HCSF/EPO/EIR/63755/T1/195
which gave similar directives as far back as 19th December, 2013.
4)
That
the Management on different occasions verified and confirmed that Medical/
Dental Officers, Resident Doctors and House Officers, were appropriately placed
in the 2015 personnel cost budget but despite
this verified evidence, Hospital Management is yet to commence
implementation.
5)
That
claims from the Hospital Management that they lack the template for
implementation and lack the financial capacity to fulfill the 2015 budget as
approved is grossly unacceptable to us as this runs contrary to the facts and
figures we have and which the Management has made no more than mere oral
efforts to refute.
6)
That
about 16 tertiary health institutions eg OAUTHC Ile Ife, FMC Owo etc have since
placed Doctors appropriately as directed by the Federal Government and have
thus maintained industrial harmony in the respective centres. It leaves much to
desire therefore, that UNTH which is the leading health institution in the
south east, have refused to implement the directives of the Federal Government
nor provide valid and transparent proof of inadequate funds, thereby promoting and sustaining this
undesired strike action.
7)
That nothing has so far been said or done
about the resolution of the lingering local issues examples: resolving the
ambiguity in advancement of Doctors, payment of 2014 teaching allowance arrears
and other salary/promotion arrears and overhaul in the service delivery in the
hospital with an aim to reducing bureaucracy in patient management and
improving global clinical outcome of patients.
After extensive deliberations, the congress resolved as follows:
1)
That
the over 5weeks strike action will be continued until the hospital management
attends to our legitimate demands.
2)
That
all avenues that will help in making the management expedite action and bring
this industrial dispute to an end should be utilized with immediate effect.
3)
That
we insist that the UNTH management should as a matter of urgency allow
representatives of NMA Enugu State, MDCAN UNTH and ARD UNTH to look critically
into the personnel records and nominal roll budget of 2015 and ascertain their
claim of not having enough funds as previously agreed by the Nigerian Medical
Association, the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and the Federal Ministry
of Health.
4)
We
appreciate and hail the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari and
reaffirm that our strike action is not directed at the Federal Government of
Nigeria but at the UNTH Hospital Management who have refused to implement
Federal Government Directives and has not shown any evidence of their claimed financial
incapability.
5)
We
appeal to all Nigerians especially those who the service disruption in UNTH
affect the most, to please kindly bear with us, as they in the end will also be
beneficiaries of this struggle.
Signed:
Dr. Ugwuoke Aloy Ifedinso Dr. Ndiokwelu
Chibuzo
President
Gen Secretary
Dr Chukwuma
C. Oraegbunam
Public Relations Officer
