Commencing a one-week warning strike, resident doctors at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, are expressing concerns regarding the alleged insensitivity of the Delta State Government towards issues impacting optimal patient care and the training of resident doctors.
Highlighted concerns include the degradation of infrastructure and the presence of outdated and malfunctioning equipment crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions.
Represented by Dr. Harrison Adja (President), Dr. Maurice Oghenekaro (General Secretary), and Dr. Erhire Clinton Umukoro (Public Relations Officer), a statement indicated that the decision was reached by the ARD DELSUTH Congress, with the strike action commencing at 8 am on Friday, April 26, 2024.
The association stated: “Despite recent renovations, the hospital’s ongoing deterioration is clearly visible. The elevator has never been operational, plumbing issues persist even after refurbishment, fixtures are deteriorating, and both the air conditioning units and fans are malfunctioning. These challenges have made working in the hospital a highly distressing ordeal.”
Mentioned outdated equipment includes the CT scan machine, MRI scan machine, mammography machine, endoscopy machine, orthopaedic equipment, anaesthetic machine, ventilators, multiparameter monitors, and electroencephalography machine, among others.
In outlining other grounds for the strike, the doctors also pointed out the problems arising from inadequate power supply and the rising electricity costs supplied by BEDC to the hospital, exacerbated by insufficient financial backing from the state government.
Despite the strike, the DELSUTH resident doctors expressed willingness to make sacrifices in order to offer optimum patient care.
“Nevertheless, we appeal to all relevant stakeholders to emphasize to the state government the critical need for adequate funding of the primary referral center in Delta State,” concluded the statement.