Doctors Protest in Abuja saying- 'Sacking Doctors Not The Answer'..!!

What else was expected from our Doctors following the suspension of all resident programs in Nigeria?

Doctors yesterday in Abuja carried placards to protest their 'sack' by the federal government and the suspension of their residency programmes in federal hospitals, demanding for immediate withdrawal of the circular terminating their appointments.

On thursday, it became news that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed the federal ministry of Health to suspend all residency training programmes for doctors, who have been on an indefinite strike since July 1st to press home their demands.

Resident doctors work in teaching hospitals, mostly owned by the federal government. They work as well as learn to become consultants.

Numbering over 50, many of the doctors who wore white overalls, gathered in front of their headquarters in Benghazi Street, Wuse, blocking the road, carrying placards with inscriptions like, "Mr President, Reverse Your Decision Now or Else"; "Mr President, Bring Back Our Doctors, Sacking Doctors Not The Answer".

Addressing the protesters and journalists, the national president of National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Jubril Abdullahi, condemned government's move and wondered whether it was to resolve the crisis or escalate it.

But the federal government has reacted, describing the protest as hypocritical.

Permanent secretary, federal ministry of Health, Dr Linus Awute, said this yesterday during an interview with journalists. According to him, some of the doctors who claimed to be on strike were still in the field working. He blamed the doctors for the decision by the federal government to suspend residency training for the medical practitioners, including the directive to the managements of public hospitals to find replacements for them.

The president of the NMA, Dr Kayode Obembe who was given a tumultuous applause by his members, following his resignation, last week, described the federal government's action as an assault to the profession.

He charged the doctors not to collect any sack letter, saying that the current government's stance would further worsen the situation.

He said the statutes that established the residency training programme have not been followed and that no individual, no matter how highly placed can wilfully sack doctors without recourse to the statutes.

Doctors deserve a lot of respect in this country. 'Sacking Doctors' is a shame with regards to the Government's response to the on-going strike. It is by no means a solution to the problem.

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