As the warning strike of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) entered it third day today, healthcare services across public hospitals in the country have been disrupted.
The association had earlier given a 15-day ultimatum to the government to meet it demands, but due to failure of government to meet the demands, the association embarked on a 7-day warning strike that commenced 30 July.
Our correspondent’s visit to some hospitals in Lagos, including Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH) and General Hospital. Ebute Metta on Thursday, showed that the nurses are in compliant with the association’s directive.
The nurses strike which coincided with the doctors’ three-day warning strike that ended yesterday, crippled services at the General Hospital, Ebute Metta, as no patient was admitted for treatment.
According to a nurse from the hospital who spoke with Pharmanewsonline on anonymity, she confirmed that they are in full compliance with the industrial action, as they were not attending to patients.
“This is unlike nurses. but we need a change in our working conditions. There is no going back until government respond to out demands,” she said.
Pharmanewsonline also observed empty desks of nurses at LASUTH with little or no activity going on in the clinics.
An anonymous source also confirmed that the nurses were on strike and yet to resume their duties.
The demands of the nurses include, creation of department of nursing at the Federal Ministry of Health, upward review of shift duty allowances, special allowance for specialist nurses, secured and conducive work environment for nurses, equipping hospitals with modern equipment to curb medical tourism abroad.
The seven-day warning strike is to end 5 August.
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