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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, has issued a 21-day ultimatum Anambra State government to extend the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure granted to resident doctors to them or face strike action by their members.
The group at Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, through the chairman of the union, Dr Amaechi Nwachukwu, disclosed that the 21-day strike notice, which commenced today, October 23, will elapse after the election.
MDCAN said that they have met management of the hospital with their demand and was given promises that the issue would be resolved, but regretted unfortunately that the change is yet to reflect even in the soon to be paid October salary.
They recalled that any payment to resident doctors is automatically, extended to their bosses but surprisingly, nothing of that nature happened, despite the fact that members of MDCAN are the ones who train resident doctors and carry out all researches including the ongoing one.
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The group added that they will not hesitate to suspend the research, discharge all patients in the teaching hospital and halt all demonstrations to medical students using their patients if their demand of proper salary scale is not met.
They appreciated the governor, Chukwuma Soludo for also approving the payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund of the resident doctors and for all he is doing in the state to boost health sector of the state, and noted that when resident doctors went on strike, that MDCAN stepped in and filled the gap in solidarity with the government showing that they want the best for everyone.
They explained that it is true that their demands is coming at a time when politicking is at its peak due to November 8 election, however, the 21-day strike notice to state government, which will elapse after the election is to drive home the point that electioneering is not their target since they have been persuading the authorities long before now.
The members of MDCAN appealed to the authorities not to allow the situation degenerate into causing hardships to residents of the state even as they maintained that many of their colleagues have left the shores of Nigeria for greener pastures, but they remained to help build a livable and prosperous Anambra state.
