Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna and Olasunkanmi Akoni
8 January 2009
Normalcy is expected to return to Lagos State government-owned hospitals today as doctors employed by the state return to work following the suspension, yesterday, of the three-day strike called by the Medical Guild. The Guild said it was suspending the strike for 90 days to enable the authorities look into the issues it had raised concerning the welfare of doctors and the deplorable state of healthcare delivery in the state, amongst others.
Investigations by Vanguard revealed that the latest development arose following series of appeals and promises from highly placed personalities who stepped into the matter and brought to bear on the striking doctors to suspend the strike, which significantly disrupted normal activities in government health institutions across the state over the last three days.
Speaking in separate interviews after an emergency meeting held at their secretariat, President and General Secretary of the Guild, Drs. Ibrahim Olaifa and Olayiwola Agara respectively, however noted that discussions would resume between the concerned parties tomorrow (Friday).
In a statement, state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris confirmed that a meeting had been scheduled with the Guild. "We are working towards having a fruitful deliberation. The suspension is a good thing and we have always wanted to dialogue because strike is not a basis for agitation"
When contacted on the telephone, Olaifa said the strike was being suspended even when there was no concrete outcome, but only to respect the wishes of the arbiters. He noted that all striking doctors had been instructed to return to work with immediate effect.
"The strike has been suspended for 90 days because of the appeals of eminent people including former Governor Bola Tinubu and Oba Rilwan Lukman who put their credibility on the line and appealed that we return to work while negotiations continue.
It is based on their appeals that we are resuming work. We are giving them that respect. We are only respecting these people by going back to work as the Ministry of Health has agreed to dialogue in an atmosphere devoid of acrimony. It is just to help the state government and allow for negotiation."
But at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), news of the suspension of the strike was received with mixed feelings. At the general Outpatient Department of the hospital, a man who simply identified himself as Wale expressed disappointment.
"So what have these doctors achieved now? Why did they embark on strike if they knew they would call it off prematurely? They are fond of striking and calling it off without achieving their demands. It only means innocent patients have suffered for nothing. They should get their act together and stop toying with human lives," he noted.
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