Hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were operating at reduced capacity as nurses and other healthcare workers participated in the nationwide strike.
Only medical doctors were seen performing their duties as they bore no affiliations with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
After the strike commenced, the hospital, which is known to be buzzing with activities, was unusually empty with only a few staff and patients found around the hospital wards, as well as the emergency ward.
Regardless, Dr Tayo Haastrup, the hospital’s spokesperson, claimed the hospital was still rendering services, emergency patients in particular.
He highlighted that different unions and associations are present in the hospital, admitting that the nurses have also joined the strike.
He noted, however, that despite the participation of the nurses in the strike, the senior nurses were onboard.
“You know when you become an assistant director as a nurse, you cannot just join the strike, those ones are helping out to do one or two things,” he said.
Comrade Aumalu Yuu Kyawa in a signed letter, had ordered all members of the union to adhere to the shutting of operations in all health facilities in the country.
”I wish to request you to immediately commence intense mobilisation of our members for a total shutdown of all the health facilities in the country, commencing from 00.01 hours, 3 June 2024, in compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Consequently, the state council’s leadership is equally requested to collaborate with the organized labour in their state to ensure a water-tight compliance and monitoring of the strike actions, as any form of sabotage shall not be acceptable,” he added.
