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Tag: Health Workers

  • FG kicks, says nationwide strike by health workers ill-timed, illegal

    FG kicks, says nationwide strike by health workers ill-timed, illegal

    The Federal Government, Sunday, described the strike declared by the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals, JOHESU as unnecessary, ill-timed and illegal. The government said its commitment to the health sector was manifest and irrevocable.

    The health workers had declared strike starting from 11:59p.m., on Sunday, September 13, over the inability of the Federal Government to meet their demands.

    However, the government has directed various unions under JOHESU not to go ahead with the strike, saying the Ministry of Labour and Employment had apprehended the dispute with the conciliation initiated on Thursday, September 9, which was still ongoing.

    A statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, said going ahead with the action would be illegal as it is in clear breach of the ILO Principles and Conventions on Strike and Sec. 18 of the Trades Disputes Act, Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    It urged JOHESU not to arm-twist or intimidate the Federal Government that had shown “clear commitment to tackling the challenges in the sector, as evidenced by the huge resources it has been pouring into the sector since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.”

    According to the statement, “the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has effectively apprehended the trade dispute as forwarded to him by JOHESU and has brought JOHESU and the Federal Ministry of Health, their employers, to conciliation since Thursday, September 9.

    “Parties in disputes are expected not to arm-twist, intimidate or foist helplessness on the other party while negotiations are ongoing as per Sections 8 and 18 the of Trade Dispute Act (TDA) 2004 barring any strike, when the matters are before a conciliator and undergoing conciliation.

    “Any strike now is inimical to an equable settlement of the dispute, bearing in mind especially that this is a grave period of a pandemic, where the Federal Government has spent about N20 billion to pay April/May and an additional N8.9 billion for June 2020 on Covid-19 hazard and inducement allowances, respectively, to all categories of health workers that are mainly JOHESU members.”

  • 75 frontline health workers test positive for COVID-19 in Katsina

    75 frontline health workers test positive for COVID-19 in Katsina

    More than 75 frontline line health workers including Doctors, Nurses, and others have tested positive of the Coronavirus, with the majority of them asymptomatic.

    Two top officials of the Katsina State Government namely; Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Abdulakarim Yahaya Sirika and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Kabir Mustapha who made the above disclosure while addressing newsmen at Government House Katsina said the infected health care workers are currently receiving home care treatment with drug regimes and observations in line with clinical practices

    They also announced that two mortalities were recorded, including one Doctor and one lab attendant who reported his case late Thursday announced that it has spent over N157, 750, 000, 00 on a total of 11,314 samples of COVID – 19 patients collected across the state with 675 repeats and follow-ups cases.

    The duo also disclosed that cumulatively, the state has spent over N157, 750, 000, 00 on a total of 11314 samples collected with 675 repeats and follow-ups cases.

    They said; “the state government has engaged Sahel Medical center, a private laboratory accredited by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), offering testing service on COVID-19 suspected cases.”

    “From 31st of May, 2920 to date, Sahel medical laboratory has tested over 10,000 samples of COVID-19 suspected patients, it cost the state government N15, 750.00 for one (1) test and so far, a whopping N157,750,000,00 has been expended on the 10,000 tests alone, in addition to other coat on patients care and staff allowances, etc. ”

    ‘’The state had about 800 positive cases with 24 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

    ‘’Sharing of risk communication activities through social media platforms as well as the intensification of the house to house awareness creation, were still ongoing.’’

    While admitting that presently the state has 13 patients in the isolation centers they however maintained that most challenges confronting the state’s COVID-19 Committee is in the refusal by most admitted patients to be quarantined and insisting that they are healthy.

    They also attributed the declining rate of infections in the state to increased testing and vigilance of the state government especially in tackling risk awareness sensitization through religious groups and traditional rulers.

  • Payment of June hazard allowance to health workers commences Monday – FG

    Payment of June hazard allowance to health workers commences Monday – FG

    The Federal Government has assured medical workers handling COVID-19 pandemic cases across the country of payment of their June hazard allowance from Monday, August 10.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, gave the assurance on Thursday at a meeting with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja.

    According to him, notwithstanding a shortfall in revenue, government will start the payment with six hospitals, while expecting more fund.

    On the Residency Training for doctors, Ngige said the Federal Ministry of Health and the Budget Office of the Federation were working in tandem with the Federal Ministry of Finance to resolve the problem in the budget.

    He added that the processing would commence soon.

    “The Teaching Hospitals and Medical Centres have been directed to submit to the Ministry of Health, the list of names of their personnel who had some hitches in receiving their payments and the names will then be forwarded to IPPIS from there,” he said.

    He, however, added that the issue of shortfall in payments had also been dealt with, as the names of the affected persons will be compiled and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance.

    Ngige also revealed that the case of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) had been amicably resolved, with the Chief Medical Director bringing back the interdicted Resident Doctors.

    “The two factors thrown up by the crisis in that local chapter of NARD had merged peacefully.

    “Elections have been conducted to elect an interim executive to man the affairs of that chapter till December 2020, after which a fresh election would hold for a new executive that would take over in 2021,” he said

    The minister commended the interim government in UPTH headed by Dr Solomon Amadi, and the Peace Committee for brokering peace successfully and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) for superintending over the election.

    Dr Aliyu Sokomba, President of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), noted that although a few issues were still pending but that significant progress had really been made in addressing the concerns of NARD.

    Sokomba commended the efforts of the Federal Government side led by Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige in ensuring industrial peace in the sector.

  • COVID-19: Hospital suspends operations after 25 healthcare workers test positive

    COVID-19: Hospital suspends operations after 25 healthcare workers test positive

    Zvishavane District Hospital in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province has suspended admissions and other health care services after 25 workers tested positive for COVID-19.

    Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima, also the provincial COVID-19 taskforce chairperson said this in a statement on Tuesday in Harare.

    The health workers that tested positive were mostly nurses and three officials from the district registrar’s office.

    The latest infections put to the fore concerns by health workers at the front that they remain at high risk from contracting the virus.

    Three other healthcare workers at Claybank Private Hospital in Gweru, also in the Midlands Province, have also tested positive to the virus.

    This had added to the increasing number of infected healthcare workers after at least 13 nurses from Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo fell victim.

    Mavima said that 29 samples were taken at Zvishavane District Hospital last week after some health care workers had tested positive.

    “On July 13, Zvishavane District Hospital received eight PCR positive results of which two were of health care workers.

    “These results prompted the testing of other health care workers and other probable contacts within the hospital on the same day.

    “The hospital received the results today on July 20 and 25 out of 28 health care workers tested positive.

    “There are three staffers from the district registrar’s office who also tested positive,” said Mavima.

    He said the hospital was now under quarantine with investigations underway to establish the source of the infections and that health authorities were tracking contacts of the 28 positive cases, including visiting their homes in and around Zvishavane.

    “Investigations are underway to establish the source and the pattern of transmission of the infections.

    “Measures being taken include contact tracing and testing of other members within the institution,” he said.

  • Health workers question FG’s plan to pay salaries of private schools teachers

    Health workers question FG’s plan to pay salaries of private schools teachers

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has questioned the plan by the federal government to pay salaries of private schools teachers affected by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

    The National President of the MHWUN, Comrade Josiah Biobelemoye in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory questioned the rationale to pay salaries of private schools teachers when visited by the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Health Services, Hon. Tanko Sununu.

    “We are doing so much and our people are showing so much understanding within this period because its COVID time but you can’t expect people to be patient all through forever.

    “Government said there is no money but they are planning to pay private school teachers who are not even under the employment of the government.

    “We that are in the forefront contending with the salvage how will you then explain to us government does not have the money to pay our deferred salaries of April and May 2018, and the withheld salaries in FMC Owerri, JUTH, LUTH and others. How will you convince us?

    “We are not against the government trying to help out private schools, but if you are helping the private schools why can’t you help us. Is it justifiable to keep the salaries of those who are in the war front?

    “We are appealing to the executive; quickly address these matters because they are ticking time bombs and they should not allow them to be detonated before they come to the rescue because any detonated bomb does not have positive results, its always negative,” the MHWUN president said.

    While making a case for increased funding of the health sector and budgetary provision to fund the salary adjustments, Biobelemoye commended the efforts and concern of the NASS in the welfare of healthcare workers.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Health Services, Sununu said families of healthcare workers who died at the frontline of the COVID-19 will receive financial benefits.

    The lawmaker said the National Assembly (NASS) was still in the process of reviewing the manner of compensation that should be made available to the affected families.

    “We are not unmindful of our health workers in the frontline who paid the ultimate price. This is why we are working out a plan to compensate their families. A committee has been set up.

    “We will call for a public hearing where the strategy and method to be used in disbursing the compensations will be agreed on. The families of the deceased will be located and we must ensure the money reaches them.

    “Our aim is to ensure there is no disharmony anymore in the health sector. We are reaching out to major stakeholders and negotiating their demands to ensure health workers continue with their work with no hitches or grievances,” the lawmaker said.

  • Resume work or get sacked, Akwa Ibom Govt warns striking health workers

    Resume work or get sacked, Akwa Ibom Govt warns striking health workers

    Akwa Ibom State Government has ordered striking health professionals to resume work immediately or risk sack.

    A statement by the commissioner for information, Mr. Charles Udoh on Wednesday said the strike action upon by the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) was ill-conceived.

    Udoh described as ‘unreasonable’ JOHESU’s demand for payment of 50% of basic salaries as hazard allowance in the prevailing harsh economic climate.

    According to him: “This is in spite of concerted efforts by government to provide the best of working conditions for health workers in the state, including up to date payment of all due salaries and allowances, which makes our state one of the best paying states in the health sector.

    “The efforts of the state government in this regard has continued to receive widespread commendations from various healthcare stakeholders in the country.

    “Against this backdrop, government is constrained to state that it is unreasonable and also unlawful for healthcare professionals to embark on any form of strike action during period of Coronavirus pandemic.

    “Therefore, a full compliment of related healthcare professionals are expected at their duty posts unfailingly, as required by the terms and conditions of their employment.

    “Any staff not found on duty will be considered to be no longer interested in the job and will be relieved of such duty with immediate effect. The relevant health authorities have been mandated to conduct head count”.

    The government stated that it has made adequate arrangements to ensure that those interested in performing their lawful duties are allowed to do so without disruption or molestation of any sort.

    “Anyone found obstructing or disrupting healthcare operations any where in the state, under the pretext of an industrial action, will be apprehended and prosecuted.

    “It is criminal for anyone to obstruct health care workers from performing their legitimate duties in this period of emergency

    “Government is aware that the ill conceived industrial action and blatant act of sabotage by JOHESU is sponsored by political detractors with an underlying intent to vandalize healthcare facilities in the state,” Udoh further said.

    The government disclosed that security agencies in the state have been fully briefed to ensure the continued protection of lives and property, using all legal means.

    “Citizens and residents are enjoined to continue to cooperate with government in the fight to curtail the surge of the COVID19 Pandemic in our state,” he assured.

  • 400 health workers test positive for COVID-19

    400 health workers test positive for COVID-19

    About 400 health workers on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus have tested positive for the virus, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has said.

    National Chairman of JOHESU, Josiah Biobelemoye disclosed this during the distribution of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) to its state councils on Thursday in Abuja.

    Biobelemoye noted that despite the increase in infections, health workers would not relent in protecting Nigerians.

    He noted the situation on ground called for drastic solutions, hence the decision of the union to take it upon itself to distribute PPEs to its members.

    “Since the outbreak of COVID- 19, over 400 members of JOHESU have been infected by coronavirus, we also need to support our own members who are working and sacrificing their lives for the generality of Nigerians, “Biobelemoye stated.

    Among PPEs to be distributed across 38 state councils of the union includes, 50,000 pieces of face masks, 15,200 pieces of sanitizers, 2,000 pieces of disinfectants and 1,200 pieces of hand wash.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Mashi, said the Federal Government was appreciative of any donations made by public spirited Nigerians towards curbing the pandemic.

    Mashi, who was represented by the Director Human Resources, Aliya Mohammed, noted that for some unusual reasons, Nigeria has been able to brace up to the challenges better than other advanced countries with technological ingenuity.

    He said: “The emergence of Covid-19 has changed the way we live our lives and the health system in general, such that even the developed countries have been overwhelmed, talk less of Nigeria.

    “The virus has affected the economy drastically, hence government cannot meet all the challenges that has been thrown up, that is why we welcome such donations by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.

    “We have many frontline health workers taking up these challenges on behalf of other Nigerians and the federal government is always appreciate of these efforts, so we crave your understanding and more support to improve on our health care delivery in the country.”

    Earlier, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ugboaja said health workers deserved commendation for being the first set of people to raise awareness on Covid-19 and its preventive measures.

    He said when many Nigerians saw health workers putting on face mask, they became aware of the seriousness of the virus and the need to stay safe.

    “Medical and Health Workers Union were the first set of people that produced face masks and other PPEs and started distributing to Nigerians,” he stated.

  • Payment of health workers’ hazard allowance commences this week – FG

    Payment of hazard and inducement allowance to Nigerian health workers on the frontline of the battle against the Coronavirus pandemic will begin this week, the Federal Government has said.

    It said the health workers will receive two months’ pay for April and May before the close of work on Thursday.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, broke the news in Abuja after a meeting with the leadership of health professionals.

    Ngige was accompanied at the meeting by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN); the Accountant General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora.

    The health workers were represented by the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

    The government, in April, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with health professional associations and unions for health workers on the frontline of the battle against the pandemic to get special incentives, including hazard allowance, insurance and tax rebates.

  • Kaduna health workers dare El-rufai, commence seven-day warning strike

    Health sector Unions in Kaduna have ignored the “no work no pay threats” by Governor Nasir Elrufai and began a 7-day warning strike from 12 noon, Friday, May 22, 2020.

    A communiqué issued and signed by Dr Danjuma Sule, Dr Emmanuel Joseph, Dr Sayyid Egbunu Mjhammed, Mr Ibrahim Abashe, Pharm. Bagu Great David, Ibrahim Lawal Suleiman, Ayuba Magaji, Nurse Ishaku Yakubu, Dr Stephen Kachi Akau, Dr Jinad Jibril Olawale, Lawal T. B., Enock I. Dodo, William Anthony and Sa’adatu Abdulwahab from MDCAN BDTH, ARD, Kaduna, ARD BDTH, National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists Nigeria, AHAPN, Kaduna branch, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Kaduna state chapter, NANNM, Kaduna state council, NMA, Kaduna state chapter, Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Kaduna state chapter, AMLSN, Kaduna branch, Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, NANNM BDTH and AHAPN BDTH respectively at the end of the joint meeting of Kaduna State Healthcare Workers Unions and Associations said the meeting was called to assess the response of the Kaduna state government to their earlier communication and notice of a 7- days warning strike to press home their demands.

    The meeting observed that the Kaduna state government deducted 25% of the salaries from about 11,000 of her Healthcare workers in the midst of COVID 19 ( April and May), stressing that the action was done in violation of section 5 of the Labour Act.

    The communiqué noted that healthcare workers feel rejected and unappreciated by the Kaduna state government and are therefore demoralized and unmotivated.

    “We also note that there are inaccuracies in the reportage of our challenges and the issues at hand,” the communiqué stressed.

    According to the Communique “Kaduna State Government paid between 150,000 to 450,000 naira as Occupational Safety incentives to about 300 selected HCWs and non HCWs working as staff or volunteer in the IDCC and isolation centre or serving in some of the CoViD 19 pillars. Less than 2% of the HCWs in the State benefited from the packages.

    “They promised 10 per cent incentives for other HCWs though inadequate are yet to be paid.

    Most HCWs that were infected with COVID-19 are from health facilities outside the IDCC and isolation centres and none of them have been paid the purported #100,000 daily for 10 days.

    “None of our members working in hospitals have been contacted to give their details for the widely publicized N5million and the N2 million life and disability insurance respectively.

    “All health workers are exposed to varying degrees of risk of infectious diseases such as CoViD 19, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, Ebola fever among others. There are no adequate PPEs in the State hospitals as evidenced by Patients buying their own gloves and, HCWs getting their own personal facemask and eye goggles among other basic PPEs.”

    The communiqué explained, “Up until Thursday 21st May 2020, the Unions and Associations were opened to negotiations and honoured an invitation for a meeting called by the honourable commissioner of health even at very short notice.

    “However issues raised at the meeting were not considered by the government, rather our members were inundated with a Circular signed by the Commissioner of health, threatening no work no pay. This was followed by a press release with a threat from government to sack any of our members who Participates in the strike action.

    “On the basis of the above, we wish to state that the 7- days warning strike has commenced as we earlier notified from 12 noon today Friday 22nd MAY, 2020.

    We want to thank our members for complying with the directive of the unions and associations in the Kaduna Health Sector.

    “The general public should take note that we are open to dialogue and should therefore prevail on the state government to listen to the voice of reason and do the needful to avert the avoidable crisis in the Health Sector of the State.”

  • Covid-19: Kano discharges 40 health workers

    Covid-19: Kano discharges 40 health workers

    Kano State has discharged forty out of the fifty health workers that got infected with COVID-19 at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

    The government said the discharged persons tested negative for the virus upon treatment at the state isolation centre.

    This was contained in a statement by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Affairs of the Hospital, Hajiya Hauwa Mohammed on Thursday.

    Mohammed quoted the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Abdurrahman Sheshe as saying, “It is really a thing of joy to share with you that the review on the tests conducted on those workers who were infected with COVID-19 some weeks ago and put in Isolation has just been forwarded to me and forty of them tested negative, no death recorded.”

    He said that the remaining 10 workers who were still in isolation were doing very well and would probably be discharged before Eid-El-Fitr according to reports by their caregivers.