By Precious Mark
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has thrown its weight behind the indefinite strike embarked upon by resident doctors at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), warning the hospital management against victimising any doctor participating in the industrial action.
NARD also called on the management of OAUTHC and other relevant stakeholders to immediately commence sincere and result-oriented negotiations to address the issues raised by the doctors and bring the dispute to an end.
NARD, in a statement signed by Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman,its President, and Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the Secretary-General, said the strike followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum and the failure of sustained engagements with the hospital management to resolve longstanding welfare and workplace concerns.
It warned against “any form of victimisation, intimidation, harassment, punitive transfer, threat, salary withholding or disciplinary action” against resident doctors or other healthcare workers participating in the strike.
“Any attempt to victimize our members will be viewed as an attack on the collective rights and welfare of resident doctors nationwide and will be resisted through all lawful means available to the Association,” NARD said.
According to the association, the striking doctors are demanding improved welfare, including the restoration of call-duty meal provisions, free issuance and refund of staff identity cards, allocation of habitable residential accommodation, implementation of applicable allowances for resident doctors, and the abolition of bench fees imposed on resident doctors from accredited private teaching hospitals undergoing approved rotations at OAUTHC.
NARD described the demands as “justifiable, welfare-driven and consistent with the principles of fairness, equity and conducive postgraduate medical training.”
The association expressed concern over what it described as a breakdown in trust between the resident doctors and the hospital management despite repeated efforts at dialogue.
It urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Board and Management of OAUTHC, and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently to ensure a speedy resolution of the dispute and prevent further disruption of healthcare services.
NARD stressed that resident doctors remain critical to healthcare delivery and postgraduate medical training in the country, insisting that their welfare, safety and dignity must not be compromised.
The association reiterated its support for the striking doctors, declaring that it would continue to stand with the OAUTHC chapter until its legitimate demands are addressed.