Bayelsa primary healthcare workers suspend strike
The Bayelsa State Chapter of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) on Sunday said it has suspended the industrial action embarked upon by its members on Feb 12.
The Chairman of MHWUN, Bayelsa, Mr Barnabas Simon told our Correspondent that the Union took the decision after a meeting of the Executives of the Union in the state on Friday in Yenagoa.
He said the decision to suspend the strike was sequel to the approval of the implementation promotion arrears of primary health care workers with effect from March.
He said the union also considered the essential nature of health services provided by the primary health care workers across the eight LGAs of the state in suspending the action to await the implementation of its demands.
Simon said the union took into consideration the health needs of people of Bayelsa who benefited from the services rendered at the Primary Healthcare Centres, and decided to return to work and give government the benefit of doubt.
He explained that the union had directed all its members to resume work at their various duty posts beginning from 26th of February, 2021 adding that normalcy would be fully restored by Monday, March 1.
The strike had shut down health services at Primary Health Centres across the state, which pregnant women and nursing mothers in the rural areas often relied on for antenatal and child immunisation services.
The union, appreciated the state government for the approval of the implementation of promotion for primary health care workers, urging it to meet other demands within three months.
“It will be recalled that the Union presented five demands of the primary health care workers but out of these five items, government has only approved the promotion to be implemented from March, 2021 salary.
“While others, including the salary arrears of between two and 15 months pending, we decided to return to work to show good faith while we expect government to reciprocate our gesture as we do not like to down tools.
“Due mainly to the humanitarian and public health needs of our people, we, therefore, requested all our members to resume normal work at their various duty posts beginning from February 26th, 2021 as the strike action is suspended.
“We appreciate all our members for their cooperation during the trying period and encourage them to be steadfast while we wait for the government to do the needful,” Simon said.
