By Adeola Ogunlade
ASSOCIATION of Resident Doctors, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Ogun State has started its three day warning strike.
The strike started yesterday after the expiration of the mandatory 21 days ultimatum, with another 7days grace period ultimatum. The doctors were demanding appropriate remuneration from the state government especially during the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President of the association, Dr. Mutiu Popoola made this known yesterday, in a letter to the Ogun State Governor titled; Protect and Appreciate Doctors who put their lives on line during this pandemic COVID-19.
The letter was jointly signed by the ARD OOUTH President, Mutiu Popoola and the General Secretary, Tope Osundara Popoola said “We have been on this struggle for Appropriate remuneration for over 4years and it is unfortunate that government’s unwilling attitude to the welfare of doctors in OOUTH is unbecoming”.
He noted that there has been no commitment whatsoever from the government on the issue of Appropriate Remuneration, Entry Level, New Minimum Wage, Hazard allowance and Life Insurance for our members.
He said that despite the Inadequate response of Ogun State Government to the Health risks confronted by our members during this COVID-19 pandemic, our members went ahead to continue their work diligently in their various departments and at the Isolation Center.
“We were taking aback by the arbitrary change in only hazard allowance to be given as COVID -19 Special Hazard Allowance to all health workers. The 200% increase in Hazard allowance is just an increase from #5000 to #15,000 for just the month of April”, he said.
Popoola stressed that we are in quandary about how the government will put up a charade without giving attention to what 21days our concerns and the real issues are.
“We only asked for what is appropriate as remuneration for doctors in OOUTH. It is also unsettling to know that our members are without a Life Insurance or a Tax Rebate as seen with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and Health Professional Associations and Unions”, he said.
He added “We have a human face and we know people are the basis of our practice as medical professionals. We shall therefore exclude our members working at COVID -19 Isolation Centre from joining the strike action. They shall not take part in the strike”.