Doctors suspend strike as Lassa fever hits Nasarawa
At a press conference shortly after an emergency meeting held in Lafia, the state capital, on Wednesday,
the association’s chairman, Dr. Chris Edeh,, disclosed that The Nasarawa State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association has suspended its three-month old strike to take charge of the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, and the suspension of the industrial action followed the outbreak of Lassa fever and the appeal made by Governor Tanko Al-Makura to the association to suspend the strike. Edeh said the suspension of the strike was to enable the state government to do the needful and prevent a total collapse of the health sector in the state, adding that “There is a case of Lassa fever that was reported in Lafia. The victim tested positive. But because we had been on strike for over three months, there was no way we could have admitted the affected person at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital. We had to refer the victim to the National Hospital, Abuja. He, however, said the association would commence another strike on November 1 if the state government failed to meet its demands, saying that “It is our hope that within two months from the date of the suspension, all contentious issues would have been adequately addressed to ensure industrial harmony in the state. All our members are hereby enjoined to rededicate themselves to selfless healthcare which is our primary calling.”
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