DELSUTH resident doctors begin one-week warning strike

Resident doctors at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, have commenced a one-week warning strike over the alleged Delta State Government’s insensitivity to issues affecting the provision of optimal patient care and training of resident doctors.

Issues raised include deteriorating infrastructure and outdated and dysfunctional equipment essential for the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions.

A statement signed by Dr Harrison Adja (President), Dr Maurice Oghenekaro (General Secretary) and Dr Erhire Clinton Umukoro (Public Relations Officer) said the decision was taken by the ARD DELSUTH Congress, adding that the industrial action commenced at 8 am on Friday, April 26, 2024.

According to the association: “Despite recent renovations, the ongoing decay of the hospital is glaringly evident. The elevator has never functioned, plumbing remains as problematic as it was before the refurbishment, fixtures are falling apart and the air conditioning units and fans have all malfunctioned. Working within the hospital has become an extremely distressing experience due to these issues.”

Some of the outdated equipment mentioned includes CT scan machine, MRI scan machine, mammography machine, endoscopy machine, orthopaedic equipment, anaesthetic machine, ventilators, multiparameter monitors, and electroencephalography machine, among others.

Among other reasons advanced for the strike, the doctors also mentioned that inadequate power supply and escalating costs of electricity from BEDC supplied to the hospital, compounded by insufficient financial support from the state government, were big issues for them.

The DELSUTH resident doctors, however, hinted that they are willing to make sacrifices to deliver optimal patient care.

“Nevertheless, we urge all concerned parties to impress upon the state government the importance of adequately funding the highest referral centre in Delta State,” the statement concluded.