Strike: Hospitals deserted, few critical cases on admission

As the nationwide strike by the Nigerian Medical Association enters its fourth day, hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are deserted, recording only few patients in the wards.
It will be recalled that the NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obembe, had on Monday directed its members to embark on a strike starting from July 1, due to government’s failure to meet its demands.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, who visited the National Hospital, Abuja on Friday, reports that only few patients were seen on admission in the male surgical ward.
The spokesperson of the hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, told NAN that the hospital had discharged many patients since the strike started, except for a few of them who were critically ill and could not be discharged.
Haastrup said: “It would be unfair for us to discharge them.
“They are in a bad condition, but the hospital’s management is doing all it can to ensure that these patients are taken care of.
“We hope that this strike is called off soonest so that patients do not suffer anymore.”