Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Ahmed Bello University Hospital chapter on Fridayvowed to embark on a three-day warning strike over the deplorable condition of the hospital.
Members of the Association, who met with Senate Committee on Health, led by the Chairman of NARD, ABUTH chapter, Dr. Waziri Aliyu, lamented deplorable condition of facilities in the Teaching Hospital.
Aliyu told the Committee that the Resident Doctors would embark on a three-day warning strike beginning fromMonday.
He said after the warning strike, they would embark on an indefinite strike if the management of the hospital failed to meet their demands.
He said: “As simple as cotton wool and (methylated) spirit, we ask patients to provide.
“I think this is the height of it.
“We feel that by interaction with you (Senators), most of our grievances would be sorted out.”
Aliyu also lamented alleged illegal sacking of doctors by the management, poor remuneration and non-availability of accommodation for staff.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, who received the Doctors alongside Senator Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central), said ABUTH shared similar problems with other public health care institutions in the country.
Tejuoso said: “The main problem we are having is the mismanagement of funds allocated, which I think you should give more attention as an association.
“When the ABUTH management came to defend their (2016) budget, I’m sure they did not have your inputs.”
In his remarks, Senator Sani said as long as the poor cannot afford to pay for hospital treatments, then our nation is sick.
The senator said the level of death in most of the teaching hospitals in the country is alarming.
He said: “Your issues are well received by the chairman in honour of the Senate.
“When Abacha took over in 1993, he describe our health facilities as mere consulting clinics.
“It’s unfortunate that most of the hospitals in India and these other countries are being sustained by Nigerians.
“It’s a serious problem.”