The protesting health workers.
Hundreds of Health Workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Bayelsa on Wednesday urged President Jonathan to suspend his re-election rallies and address protracted strike when they staged a protest over a protracted health sector strike which has grounded medical services at the facility.
Medical services has been grounded at FMC Yenagoa by a strike of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) since Octobr 2014
The workers say the non meeting of demands of the Joint Health Sector Union has resulted to avoidable deaths on daily basis as members of the public were denied access to affordable health care services due to the strike.
The protesting health workers were led by the Chairman Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospital Research and other Allied Institution (SSAUTHRIAI),Comrade Save Nubani
He said the strike which commenced in October 2014 has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of patients in the state including a Nursing Staff of the FMC, Mrs. Theresa Edet.
According to Ubani, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan after series of Eleven meetings presided over by supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity and the Minister of Health have failed to meet the demands of the Union .
“It is sad that in the President’s home state, the effect is worrisome and has resulted in a rise in deaths of hundreds of patients weekly due to the strike action and resulting exorbitant medical bills paid by the wealthy in private hospital for health care.
The protesting health workers, carrying placards with inscriptions reading “Jonathan save the health sector”,”2015: No proper health care, No vote”, ”Jonathan: Our health or your second term “Choose”.
The workers asked the President Jonathan to immediately suspend his campaign schedule and approve the demands of the health workers.
“If the people are not healthy, how can you tell them to vote for you. Out of those dying due to the Federal Government indifference, there are registered voters.
“In spite of the series of peace meetings with the Union, the Federal Government has been treating our demands with disdain and levity, not minding that our members constitute 95 per cent of the entire workforce in the health sector” he said.
Ubani said the demands of the protesting health unions are categorized into three parts which includes the unconditional and immediate implementation of all collective bargaining agreement and memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed with JOHESU
It also includes the Full implementation of all judgment in favor of JOHESU by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
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