From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi
The nationwide strike embarked upon by doctors has entered its ninth day today, leaving many patients frustrated at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
Peoples Daily reports that doctors have since refused to attend to patients seeking medical attention in the hospital.
Some of the patients expressed the view that there is a need to consider the legal implication of the doctors’ strike, arguing that incessant strike by doctors is a breach of the oath they took to care for the patients.
Our correspondent, who visited the male and female medical wards at the hospital on Monday, reports that only few patients were seen on admission while those coming from the rural areas seeking medical attention had no doctor to attend to them.
However at the ante-natal clinic, which handles over 12 patients daily, some consultants were seen attending to pregnant women.
A nurse, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said however, that pregnant women were given medical attention during the strike, in order to avoid any complication that might endanger the life of the mother and baby.
According to her, “Pregnancy can sometimes bring some complication for a mother and her baby, so pregnant women need constant medical attention to keep them healthy”
“We don’t want a situation whereby a pregnant woman suffers because of the strike and that is why, like those patients with emergency cases, the hospital has directed that they should be attended to”.
The Acting Chief Medical Director, Dr. Yusuf Jibril said that the doctors in the hospital are still on strike, in compliance with the directives of NMA.
