Kogi NMA Chairman calls for an improved welfarism for doctors.
Governments at all levels have been called upon to improve on the welfare packages of health workers to reduce migration due to trappings of the greener pastures.
Chairman, Kogi State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Doctor Baoku Olushola made the appeal while speaking with newsmen to commemorate 2024 May day celebration.
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Doctor Olushola said all workers deserve special recognition due to their dedication, devotion and patriotism to the country particularly in the aspect of service delivery.
He explained that Kogi in recent time witnessed improvement in the sector but affirmed the need for further attention to address brain drain that has reduced the numbers of health care personnel.
The Chairman emphasised that the salaries of health workers is far lower than that of their counterparts in different developed nation and urged the Federal Government to save the country from the obvious embarrassment of capital flight.
He promised that the union will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to champion the interest of workers particularly at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL) where sizeable numbers of doctors have left without replacement.
He explained that the current health workers at the health care facility are overburdened with workload leading to fatigue, hostility and at times delay during emergency cases.
He said the recent waves of protest by doctors at the hospital is to press home their demands for an improved condition of service including; minimum wage arrears, hazards allowances and thirty five thousand Naira wage award which some groups of doctors have not been able to access.
He said the lingering crises had endured close to six months and one year without move for negotiation.
He appealed to the Federal Government to look into the issue particularly in the aspect of employment opportunity for doctors to fill the gap created by those who have left the hospital.
Responding to the spokesman for health care facility, said newsmen have been briefed by the development maintaining that the hospital is following due process in its internal challenges.
