Health Sector Shut Down

OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, on Saturday, announced plans to embark on daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide.

NARD in a notice after its National Executive Council, NEC, Meeting, jointly signed by the National President, Dr Emeka Orji and the Secretary, Dr Chikezie, Kelechi said the mass action will take effect from Wednesday, 9th August 2023 at 10:00 am.

The statement reads in part, “This has become necessary to press home our demands which have been
largely neglected by our parent ministry and the federal government.

“We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the federal government have chosen to demonise Nigerian resident doctors instead, after all, their sacrifices and patriotism.

“We, therefore resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.

“We believe that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Wednesday, 9th August 2023, or leave us with no other option.”