Legislators urge resident doctors to consider consumers’ plight, suspend strike

*The Federal lawmakers say the Federal Government has commenced discussions with the resident doctors, and hopefully, it will continue in order to reach a good conclusion

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the resumption of industrial action by resident doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the Senate and House of Representatives in the National Assembly (NASS) have appealed to the medics to suspend their strike and return to negotiation table with the Federal Government.

ConsumerConnect had reported that the resident doctors resumed the industrial action Monday, August 2, 2021.

Their ongoing strike is affecting medical services at various government-owned hospitals, according report.

The National Assembly Complex, Abuja, FCT

Subsequently, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Senate Committee Chairman on Health, who spoke at the flag-off of a public health sensitisation campaign organised by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as well noted that the impact of doctors’ strike on the overall health of Nigerian consumers is huge, agency report said.

The Federal legislator said: “Medical doctors are critical to the nation’s health. I urge them to consider the generality of Nigerians and call off the ongoing strike.

“Already, the Federal Government has commenced discussions with the doctors and hopefully it will continue in order to reach a good conclusion.”

Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, also appealed to doctors end their ongoing strike across the country.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, while explaining the essence of the sensitisation campaign to the legislators earlier, was said to have explained that the exercise would start August 9 and end October 9, 2021.

Sen (Dr.) Chris Ngige, Honourable Minister for Labour and Employment

The NAFDAC Director-General stated: “The key objective of this sensitisation programme is to intensify and expand the scope of our informal and formal behaviour change communication strategies in order to reach the vulnerable communities especially at the grassroots.

“Dissemination of Food and Drug safety information is an important aspect of our regulatory work.”

Adeyeye further said: “It is common knowledge that Nigeria has a preponderant share of the global problem of falsified medical products and unwholesome food.

“The advent of COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the problem with the challenge posed by substandard and falsified Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).”

According to NAFDAC, the sensitisation campaigns will contribute significantly to Federal Government’s concerted efforts at informing, sensitising, educating and alerting the public about the inherent dangers of intake and use of those spurious regulated products in Nigeria.

“The campaign themes are multifaceted with clear, concise, informative and educative messages aimed at arousing the awareness and consciousness of the general public about the various infractions that impact negatively on our healthcare delivery system,” said Prof. Adeyeye.