Laraba MUREY
Resident doctors under the Federal Capital Territory Administration have commenced a one-week warning strike to press home demands for better welfare and improved health facilities.
The action, which began on Monday, was confirmed in a statement signed by the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, FCTA chapter, Dr. George Kelvin Ebong.
Ebong said the decision followed years of neglect in the FCT health sector, including lack of manpower, poor infrastructure, and unpaid entitlements.
According to him, hospitals in the territory have not had fresh employment since 2011, forcing doctors to work under pressure and handle duties outside their specialties.
He added that many facilities were in bad condition, while some lacked basic equipment. “Some of our hospitals are in terrible shape. Doctors are exposed to danger, and allowances are not being paid as and when due,” he said.
The association noted that the strike would last seven days, warning that if the government failed to act, members might embark on an indefinite action.
Efforts to get the reaction of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat were not successful as of the time of filing this report.
