LAGOS – The Joint Health Workers Union of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute-Meta on Wednesday urged the management of the centre to upgrade the equipment in the hospital to make it attract more patronage.
Members of the union, at a rally at the hospital, said that outdated equipment, in addition to cost of treatment, was affecting patronage and making them redundant.
They said that they might proceed on an industrial action soon to press home their demands if the management failed to heed their call.
Mrs Blessing Isreal, National Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) FMC Ebute Metta chapter, urged the authorities to do something urgently to change the situation.
Isreal said the use of outdated equipment at the centre had really affected its Internally Generated Revenue due to reduction in the number of people bringing patients to the hospital for treatment.
“The equipment is outdated and with outdated equipment you cannot really work efficiently and effectively.
“Light is nothing to write home about, patients scream at night because there is no source of illumination at all; the members of staff are not happy.
“The generating set is very old and not functioning well.
“The tariff is very high and because of this we are not really having patients, if the tariff should come down, patients will come and we will be happy to work,” Isreal said.
Mr Shehu Sulaimon, the Chairman, Joint Health Sector Unions, FMC Ebute Meta chapter, called for improved staff welfare at the centre.
He said that the morale of the workers was low due to several steps taken by the hospital management.
‘’It has been a protracted issue that we have been discussing with our management.
“For instance, they have not done anything about the promotion arrears which have not been paid and only God knows the reason,’’Sulaimon said.
Mr Julius Achonwa, Chairman Health workers Union, FMC Ebute Meta chapter, also spoke in similar vein.
Achonwa said that everything enjoyed by the staff members of the Medical centre such training, three months leave before retirement and promotion arrears no longer exist.
“It was not like that before,’’ Achonwa said.
Mrs Yewande Jinadu, Medical Director, FMC Ebute-Meta, when contacted on phone, told NAN that she was on leave and was outside the country.
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Mr Emmanuel Okone, FMC Director Administration and Human Resources when contacted on phone declined comments.
“You are talking to the wrong person on this issue,” he said.
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