by David Cyril

 

Today, an indefinite strike has been undertaken by the Health workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

As a result, this strike has prompted the workers to forcefully eject hundreds of patient from the hospital, including the very sick and old who are under an intense medical care.

Last week the hospital classified a surveillance centre for Ebola in the state, as the health workers demand payment of outstanding promotion arrears.

The Bayelsa  Government has expressed shock at the 3-day warning strike which started on August 11, 2014, done by the aggrieved health workers before embarking on an indefinite strike; it is also known that the workers are under the banner of the Joint Health Sector Unions at the (FMC)

Simon Bernabas, the coordinator of the Joint Health Sector Unions at the hospital, had said on today that the various unions were compelled to embark on the indefinite strike after a three-day warning strike in June, he added that the Federal Medical Centre, of Yenagoa r to pay promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances, currently being enjoyed at other Federal Medical Centres.

Meanwhile on the five week nationwide strike already embarked on by the Nigerian Medical Association. At the physiotherapy department, patients were forced out of the complex by representatives of the various health unions who locked up the facility.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Ebitimi Etebu, said the outstanding arrears of allowance was due to funding shortfall. “The strike is malicious. We have explained to the workers that funds to pay them is not with us here and that they will be paid. But they just held a meeting and went on demonstrations on the streets. The management is not part of that; they are on their own,”

The hospital administrator expresses its regret on the unfortunate event that has occurred in the Health Sector.