Business
Health Workers Begin Nation-Wide Strike, Today
The leadership of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has mobilized its membership across the nation out for a nation-wide strike action commencing today.
A statement issued by the union’s Secretary-General, Comrade Ayinde Obisesan, on Saturday in Ibadan, said that the union leaders have directed their members across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accordingly.
Ayinde’s statement stated that all the union members are hereby directed to commence an indefinite strike action with effect from 12.01am Monday, 6 March, 2017 until otherwise directed.
He explained that the strike action is sequel to the ultimatum issued to the government since January 20, 2017 and the inability of government to address the union’s demands positively.
The union’s demands include but not limited to better welfare, improved salary structure, better conditions of service, payment of outstanding allowances and salary arrears.
NUAHP membership includes physiotherapists, pharmacists, dieticians, medical laboratory scientists, optometrists and radiographers.
Others are dental therapists, medical physicists, health information officers, clinical psychologists and medical social workers.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government in collaboration with development partners have concluded plan to engage 200,000 voluntary health workers to improve immunization, antenatal care and other health services.
According to a statement signed by Mr Saadu Salahu, Head, Public Relations Unit, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCA) in Abuja on Saturday, government had recently flagged off a scheme to revitalize over 10,000 healthcare centres across the country.
Salahu said that the scheme is to avail poor Nigerians with qualitative and affordable healthcare services in the country.
The spokesman of the NPHCDA said that the agency would deploy 20 voluntary village health workers to each political ward of nine polio-endemic states.
Philip Okparaji
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.