Anxiety as FCT resident doctors begin one-week warning strike

By Stanley Onyekwere

There is palpable tension across public hospitals, following the commencement of a one week warning strike by FCT resident doctors.

The striking doctors announced this via a communiqué signed by the association’s President, George Ebong, and other executive members.

The doctors are demanding that the FCT Administration embark on reforms, particularly in staffing and welfare or face a more serious strike action, after the warning strike.

According to them, the health system in the FCT has allegedly crippled by long-standing structural deficiencies, stressing the need for urgent and comprehensive reforms.

Ebong complained that resident doctors in the FCT are under strain and are often forced to handle multiple jobs in different departments at once.

They urged the federal government to urgently address the worsening challenges in the health sector, warning that persistent neglect could trigger “a systemic collapse.”

The association also demanded quick intervention to fix manpower shortages, non-functional equipment, unpaid allowances, and poor working conditions.

It also raised concerns over unpaid salaries, delayed promotions, and underpayment of promoted staff, insisting that morale and efficiency in service delivery hinged on immediate reforms.

Ebong further stressed stated that health workers must be actively involved in decision making processes.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filling this report, the FCT Health and Environment Services Secretariat has not reacted to the warning strike.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. Babagana Adam could not be reached as his phone was busy all through.