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By Muinat Usman
The Association of Resident Doctors, Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (ARD-KWASUTH), has embarked on an indefinite strike, joining their counterparts nationwide to press home longstanding demands from the Kwara State Government.
President of ARD-KWASUTH, Dr. Abdulfatah Abdulazeez, announced the decision at a news conference in Ilorin.
Dr AbdulAzeez said the doctors had shown considerable patience to allow the government address issues affecting their welfare, which he described as legitimate entitlements of medical personnel under state employment.
He noted that although the national body of the association began its strike about three weeks ago, the KWASUTH chapter initially chose not to join in order to preserve its cordial relationship with the state government.
He explained that the government’s failure to resolve issues peculiar to KWASUTH left the association with no option but to withdraw services.
Dr. Abdulazeez commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the steps already taken, including payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund and the commencement of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure 2024.
He, however, stressed the urgent need for the government to prioritise the welfare and working conditions of doctors, citing the poor doctor-to-patient ratio, inadequate call meals, deplorable call rooms, and unstable electricity supply among the 19 challenges undermining effective service delivery at the hospital.
The association also called for the immediate employment of House Officers, describing them as critical frontline personnel who serve as the first point of contact for patients before the arrival of resident doctors.
Dr. Abdulazeez lamented that many doctors have left the hospital due to burnout, exhaustion, and lack of essential amenities.
He warned that “doctors are not supermen,” stressing that fatigue threatens both staff safety and patient care, adding that “a tired doctor is a dangerous doctor.”
Despite the industrial action, he reaffirmed the association’s commitment to the development of the healthcare sector and its willingness to partner with the government to improve the system.
Reacting to the development, the Deputy Chief Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of KWASUTH, Dr. Obalowu Ismaila, confirmed management’s awareness of the strike.
He explained that the national directive for resident doctors to join the ongoing nationwide industrial action also applies to the KWASUTH chapter.
Dr. Obalowu acknowledged the support the state government has extended to the association and reiterated the administration’s commitment to addressing manpower shortages.
He noted that the “Japa” syndrome is not peculiar to Kwara but a nationwide challenge affecting Nigeria’s health sector.
He appealed to the resident doctors to consider the government’s ongoing efforts, saying policies are being developed to encourage young doctors to serve the state for a specified number of years through structured bonding programmes similar to those adopted by neighbouring states.
Editing: Abdullahi Ahmed
