An ongoing strike by well being professionals in Katsina State has disrupted services at public hospitals, leaving sufferers and pltheir caregivers unsure about entry to medical therapy.
The well being staff launched into a one-week warning strike following disagreements with the state authorities over their welfare and remuneration.
A go to to Turai Yar’Adua Maternal and Child Hospital in Katsina on Saturday revealed the affect of the economic motion, with only some sufferers seen across the surgical ward.
For many households, the dispute over staff’ remuneration has heightened issues over the well being and security of family members requiring pressing medical consideration.
One of the affected caregivers, Aina’u Abdulmajid, mentioned her affected person was affected by issues arising from surgical procedure and appealed to the state authorities to revive regular hospital services.
“For the sake of God, we call on the government to intervene. Our patient is suffering from complications arising from surgery. Please help us and restore services,” she pleaded.
Ms Abdulmajid’s attraction mirrored the predicament of households who rely on public hospitals for therapy however have discovered themselves caught between an unresolved labour dispute and the pressing want for medical consideration.
Another caregiver, Sulaiman Mansir, mentioned he had introduced his sick youngster to the hospital for therapy however was confronted with the disruptions brought on by the strike.
Mr Mansir expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding his youngster’s therapy and urged the federal government to interact the placing well being staff to resolve the dispute with out additional delay.
The industrial motion has compounded the difficulties confronted by households already grappling with transportation prices, medicines and different medical bills.
Why well being staff are on strike
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stories that the strike was declared by the Assembly of Health Professionals following unresolved disagreements with the Katsina State authorities over staff’ remuneration and welfare.
The meeting includes the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).
The meeting’s chairperson, Ibrahim Balange, mentioned the unions issued a seven-day strike discover to the federal government on 7 October, however the discover expired with out a passable decision of their calls for.
Mr Balange defined that the dispute started in 2024, when the state authorities indicated plans to assessment the allowances of well being professionals to align them with these of their counterparts in federal authorities service.
He mentioned the employees subsequently raised issues in regards to the implementation of the minimal wage, alleging that the wage construction permitted for them differed from what they had been receiving.
According to him, a committee established to analyze the complaints submitted suggestions in March 2025, however the authorities had but to implement them.
He mentioned the Office of Public Service Reform later provided the employees 10 per cent of the wage distinction between them and their counterparts in federal establishments.
However, the provide didn’t resolve the disagreement.
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Government responds
Following the graduation of the strike, the state authorities elevated its provide to fifteen per cent, however the unions rejected it, sustaining that it fell wanting their calls for.
The Head of the State Civil Service, Masa’ud Banye, confirmed that authorities officers had met with representatives of the placing staff to debate the dispute.
Mr Banye expressed optimism that the disagreement would quickly be resolved and acknowledged the difficulties sufferers had been experiencing due to the economic motion.
He mentioned Governor Dikko Radda’s administration remained dedicated to efficient healthcare supply in the state.
(NAN)
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