ARD strike bites Gombe residents harder
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Branch President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Dr Daniel Apollos, said the strike action has been total, adding that the consultants have been doing their best to maintain the few patients in the critical sessions of the facility.
Apollos made this disclosure on Tuesday, in an interview with our correspondent, stressing that there are no cases of insubordination by members.
“We don’t have patients in the hospital for now; the ones available are very few, in emergency unit and few in the wards. The consultants are doing their best they are doing the minimal service that they can offer.
“There is 100% compliance on the part of my members. In Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe, there is 100% compliance as we in turn wait for National directives. We hope they will enter another session of meeting and then come out with possible resolution that would benefit all side,” Apollos said.
He debunked insinuations that doctors were being targeted owing to the prolonged strike, saying that he was yet to receive threat complaints.
Apollos added, “The people of Gombe are solidly behind us because I don’t have any complaints from my members relating to harassment.”
Also, Alkasim Bello, a middle-aged man narrated how he has adjusted to visiting a private medical facility to ensure his wife gets the best of medical care.
Bello said, “I was one of the unprepared persons that were caught in the ongoing industrial action. I arrived Federal Teaching Gombe on the day strike was declared without knowing.
“We waited until we couldn’t wait anymore. Already my budget was limited because I knew the practices in FTH Gombe and the fare but I had to borrow money to ensure my wife was attended to in due time as she was in pain. We almost lost her as we were waiting to be attended to at the government hospital.
“It is unfortunate that when two elephants fight the grass suffers. All I seek is amicable resolution of the ongoing impasse that will put an end to this perennial challenges.”
Another user of the public facility, Hussaina Danjuma, lamented how unbearable life has been for her and her children in getting medical attention.
She noted that it had taken a toll on her finances saying that, “It has not been easy taking care of the children’s health in the private hospitals. Ordinarily, with little funds I can get card and see a doctor. With the economic austerity biting hard, accessing help in private hospital, payment has been on a high.
“I just hope Government will give them what they Association of Resident Doctors are fighting because it is for our own good.”