The University College Hospital in Ibadan has been affected by an indefinite strike embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, on Monday. This development comes as the ongoing strike by resident doctors enters its 17th day.
According to reports, all gates to the hospital, except the main entrance, were closed, with some JOHESU members manning the entrances. The strike is a result of the Federal Government’s failure to address the union’s demands, specifically the upward adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Scale, CONHESS. This demand is based on the adjustment made to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, in 2014.
JOHESU comprises various unions, including the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, and the Teaching Hospitals Research and Academic Institutions, among others. The union’s chairman at UCH, Oladayo Olabampe, stated that the strike is in line with the directive from the union’s national body. He emphasized that there was an agreement to adjust both CONMESS and CONHESS simultaneously, but only CONMESS has been adjusted since 2014.
The union is seeking a salary adjustment similar to that given to medical doctors. Olabampe noted that the nation is resolute in its demand and will not back down until it is met. He reiterated that the Federal Government should attend to the demand as it did for CONMESS. The strike by JOHESU and the resident doctors has significant implications for healthcare services in the country, highlighting the need for urgent attention to the issues at hand.
The hospital’s operations have been affected, with only the main entrance remaining open. The strike is likely to impact patients and their families, who may face challenges in accessing medical care. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Federal Government will respond to the union’s demands and work towards a resolution. The ongoing strike by healthcare workers in Nigeria underscores the need for a prompt and effective solution to the issues plaguing the health sector.
