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UPTH Doctors Not Embarking National Strike, Says ARD
The Association of Resident Doctors ARD, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital UPTH says the Association is not joining its national counterpart on a national strike..
President, ARD, UPTH, Dr. Ameh Samuel Ameh disclosed this on Monday, while briefing Newsmen on the state of affairs at the hospital.
Amenh said, “the Association have decided not to embarked on the Nation wide strike in UPTH, but to save lives.
Dr. Ameh said the Association decided not to embarked on the strike because of the Covid 19 pandemic ravaging the nation so as to offer medical service delivery to the masses.
“Because of the Covid 19, all health workers are playing essential services to the patients accessing the hospital”, he said.
He noted that the leadership. Of the Nigerian Medical Association i NMA s negotiating with the federal government on its demands and the supplies of Personal Protective Equipment PPE in the hospitals.
ARD said, it also appreciates the efforts of the management of UPTH and the Rivers state government in tackling the pandemics.
“Our doctors are passionately working in UPTH to contain the virus and save lives”, Ameh said.
The President said the impact of the virus is non selective as we have our colleagues manning the hospital testing centres in UPTH
Dr. Ameh appealed to the federal government to meet to the demands of the doctors and all the health workers across the country to enable them carry out their duty effectively.
“The federal and state governments must understand that health workers are making sacrifices”, he said
Earlier, Chief Medical Director, CMD, Prof Henry Arinze Ugboma said he is worried that doctors across the country are embarking on a national strikes now that the pandemic is at pur door steps
Ugboma said the umbrella body ARD, UPTH is not embarking on the strike as they cares for human lives in the hospital.
Prof Ugboma said over 15 health workers had contracted the virus in the hospital even as the hospital is embarking on expansion for more 20 bed spaces for patients
“As a health worker, no body will accept downingtools now as the nation is now facing economic downturn due to mass impact by Covid 19 pandemic in the country” he said.
He noted that ARD, UPTH is happy with the management and staff of the hospital.
Chinedu Wosu