Medical Doctors in Lagos State are set for a showdown with the state government as they begin a three-day warning strike today, Monday over issues that affect their safety and welfare.
Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, Chairman of the Guild said the strike, which would run from Monday, July 13 to 16, would exempt members working in the state’s COVID-19 isolation centres.
He said the Congress of the Guild had on June 27 extended the two weeks ultimatum to the state government, after the expiration of its initial 21 days ultimatum to resolve the issues.
The guild leader noted that the grace period was given to the government to meet 70 per cent of the doctors’ demands to avert the strike.
He, however, said that the council, after its meeting on July 11, observed that some of the demands were unresolved by the government.
According to him, wage disparity between the Federal and Lagos State doctors is not being given necessary attention by the state government.
He said: “The issue of COVID-19 hazard allowances and inducement allowance, Memorandum of Understanding approved by the Federal Government to the doctors has not been approved by the Lagos Government.
“Doctors working in COVID-19 isolation centres are still being owed two months’ salaries which have remained unpaid at the moment.
“They are also being unceremoniously disengaged without recourse to their welfare.”
The chairman stressed that the issues of doctors getting infected and re-infected daily were not getting the required attention from the government.
“Our members are putting themselves on the line daily to provide care, and we need to do everything to protect our colleagues,” Sodipo added
He maintained that adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), prompt testing of health workers and insurance should be provided.
Sodipo added that issues of shortage of doctors in health facilities have yet to be resolved with no visible substantive action taken by the government to resolve it.
“The congress will reconvene after the three-day warning strike to review the progress made and plan for further actions.
“We call on the Lagos State Government to do all within its power to resolve the impasse,” he said.
