In view of the protest by some aggrieved Resident Doctors calling for the reinstatement of the sacked President, Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, (FTHL), the Joint Health Sector Unions and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, (NANNM) have called on the general public to disregard the purported report that there is crisis rocking the health institution.
Addressing a joint press conference in Lokoja on Monday, the Joint Health Sector Unions, (JOHESU) and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, (NANNM) both aligned that the unions are still in shocked to receive such negative news coming from a section of some aggrieved Doctors in the hospital.
The Chairman, Joint Health Sector Unions, (JOHESU) Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, Comrade Umoche Enefola John, while reacting to a publication titled “Protest rocks FTHL as Doctors demand reinstatement of ARD President Implemention FG’s Directive” noted that the publication is a complete opposite of the true situations of what is happening in the hospital, adding that the author of the said online publication does not mean well for the hospital and the inhabitant of Kogi State.
“It is expected that every staff member of the hospital especially the front health providers be seen to be of high moral standard and not found wanting in this regard or be given opportunity to exhibit or continue to exhibit misconduct.
“No one should be seen or be exempted from the above so as not to create a wrong impression in the minds of other health workers which could be a recipe for future anarchy. The hospital is being governed by the top management staff under the leadership of the CMD and decisions on issues brought before her are taken at that level after serious consultation with the public service rules, and not by an individual.
“Any individual or group who may have disciplinary issues should sort it out at the management level as it has always being with other members of staff. We are no longer going to condole any act that would truncate the peaceful coexistence of members of staff of the hospital and the achievements recorded by this administration at the expense of interest of an individual or few.
” We would vehemently resist this as no one is above the public service rules. The Hon. Minister should use his good office to nip in the board this unfortunate situation as it is cheaper, safe and more effective to run the hospital from within than to run it from Abuja.
“What is happening now is a calculated attempt to distract the good intention of the renewed hope agenda of His Excellency President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. We therefore, call on our able President and other stakeholders to disregard the false rumor of crisis rocking Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja” he stated .
Also speaking, the Chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, (NANNM) Comrade Abdulmalik Idris debunked the claims that Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja are under staffed and has only 46 doctors across board.
According to him “This is a complete departure from the reality on ground. It is a fat lie from the pit of hell. I am pleased to inform the public that Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja has a total of 228 doctors. Below is the breakdown of Doctors at Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja. Consultant, (86), Residents (49), Visiting Consultant, (7), Medical Officer, (42) and Health Officer, (43)”.
On his part, a Consultant Clinical Pharmacist, Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja who doubles as the Chairman, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacist of Nigeria Dr Lawal Muhammed, argued that the information being peddled by the online media and on television are false and unfounded adding that it is not a true reflection of what is happening in the hospital.
He added that the aggrieved Doctors blown their issues out of proportion adding that the management won’t allow miscreants to take advantage of the recent happening, hence security beef up .
Dr Muhammed explained that the various union leaders did not see any correspondence from the Federal government for the reinstatement of the sacked President, Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja Dr Jimoh Umar and can not categorically say if there is any or not.
He advised that due administrative process be followed with lobby and not encouraging crisis as it will affect the patients.
