Pharmacists, Nurses, Throw Weight behind JOHESU Strike

pharmacy

Pharmacists under the aegis of Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) with their nurses’ counterparts from the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) have said there is no going back on the JOHESU strike, as they are fully involved to press home the demands of their members.

The health workers who are not scared of being part of JOHESU, said they have received circular from the group to direct their members to sit at home from Monday to observe the industrial action.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the National Chairman, AHAPN, Dr Kingsley Amibor, he said: “We are members of JOHESU for now. Recall that the Federal Government denied us registration as an independent trade union in the past, so officially, we are with JOHESU for now, while we make efforts to register our own Pharmacists Union”.

The NANNM President, Com. Abdrafiu Adeniji also expressed the view od nurses towards the industrial action, saying nurses are part of the action.

Adeniji noted that nurses are maintaining the same stand with JOHESU as “NANNM is part of the struggle, as members at federal health institutions FHI level alone are the ones on strike now”.

The AHAPN chairman further explained how the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa had given pharmacists the directives earlier in the month to join the JOHESU warning strike.

In a circular signed by AHAPN National Secretary, Akande Ola Hafiz, the position of the association regarding the srike was communicated to members thus: 

“Following the interative zoom meeting of the President of PSN, Pharm.(Mazi) Ohuabunwa with AHAPN NEC Council and elders of the association on Wednesday 9th of September, 2020, where a number of issues were discussed. The meeting resolved, among other things that pharmacists should be part of the planned JOHESU warning strike. 

“By the circular, the State Chairman and secretaries are hereby directed to instruct their members to observe and comply with the warning strike as directed by the Joint Health SECTOR Union and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association (AHPA)”.

On the enforcement of members compliance, he said when a strike action is declared, pharmacists usually work hand in hand with other JOHESU executive to ensure that the strike is effective in all institutions.  

“So collaboration is it. Pharmacists collaborate with nurses, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and others to ensure the strike is not sabotaged by any group”, he emphasised.