Keffi (Nasarawa State) – The Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Dr Joshua Giyan-Ndom, has advised health workers in the country to embrace dialogue and shun strike.
Giyan-Ndom gave the advice on Tuesday while addressing newsmen in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, using strike actions to seek welfare issues is infringing on the rights of patients.
He said that the call has become imperative due to the negative effects of such strikes on patients and the country.
“As we are all aware that any striking action embarked upon by the health workers in the country is always affecting the lives of Nigerians, especially patients, negatively resulting to loss of many lives.
“Because the striking action had brought untold hardship to many Nigerians, especially the privileged who do not have the means to access private healthcare services, and it is our prayer that health workers should always eschew strike action.
“The right of the patients also need to be protected at all the time in order to avoid untimely death, because patients are kings in every health sector and a healthy person can become a patient one day but that is not our prayer.
“It is in view of this that I want to advise health workers as part of self denial put the interest of their patients first, eschew strike action and embrace dialogue as the only wholesome method of addressing their welfare issues,” he said.
According to him, FMC Keffi is the only federal tertiary health institution in Nasarawa state, rendering services not only to the host state but to other neighbouring states.
Giyan-Ndom also urged Muslims and other Nigerians to use the period of the Ramadan to pray fervently for peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic, religion and political groups for the overall development of the country.
Besides, he restated the commitment of the management of the centre to continue to key into policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of patients and workers.
The medical director also called on the staff to reciprocate government effort through hard work and dedication to duty in order to ensure quality healthcare delivery. (NAN)