The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) strike which entered the forth day has paralysed health services at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH Ituku- Ozalla near Enugu.
Gfhnews observed that some wards in the hospital were without patients as they had turned to private health institutions for medical attention.
The Head Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UNTH, Mr Cyril Keleze said the health workers’ strike had crippled activities in the hospital except for essential services.
Kekeze explained that the doctors were in the hospital to attend to patients as they were not supposed to be on strike.
He noted that the JOHESU strike was a warning strike, which would end on Sunday mid-night as all health workers were expected to resume work on Monday, Sept 21.
Some of the patients, who were still on admission, said they came from other states and could not easily vacate the hospital to private hospitals due to financial difficulties.
Mrs Chidimma Okpara, whose mother had been on admission, said it was difficult for her to raise the money she spent in bringing her mother to UNTH as she could not take her to any other hospital but to remain at the UNTH till the strike was over.
“We came from Imo State, it was not easy for me financially to bring my mother here, so talking about going to another hospital is out of my plan,” Okpara lamented.
Mr Kalu Ukoha, a patient, said he believed that the strike would soon be over, adding that going to a private hospital would be a waste of money.
A staff of the Accounts department in the hospital, Mrs Nneka Dim, said the strike had affected health services, research and training in UNTH, adding that only the doctors were on duty.
