The Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights, CDWR, has expressed its support for the nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Association of Residents Doctors, NARD, on Monday.
This is as it called on the government to meet the doctors’ demands immediately and unconditionally.
The group, in a statement issued by its national chairman, Mr. Rufus Olusesan, on Tuesday called on the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and other health care unions as well as the labour centres (NLC, TUC and ULC) to back the doctors’ action and be prepared to engage in solidarity actions to support the struggle.
The statement reads in part: “We also call on NARD not to make the nationwide strike a sit-at-home action. The members of the public who will be the most affected need to be sensitized about why doctors have embarked on this action. Therefore media activities like press conferences, interviews and others should be intensified. Alongside this, social-distance rallies with all participants wearing facemasks, circulation of leaflets and public demonstration would be required to ensure that the public is well mobilised behind the strike. This is the best approach that can guarantee victory.
“We also challenge the NARD not to limit the strike’s demand to issues of PPE, pay and conditions alone even though important for the wellbeing of healthcare workers. As the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed; Nigeria’s health sector is underfunded and lacking necessary equipment and facilities. Consequently, health care lacks quality and standard and in most cases, the cost of health care at government hospitals is unaffordable to a huge percentage of working and poor people. For this reason therefore, we urge the NARD to also demand adequate funding of healthcare as part of a plan for the provision of free, functional and democratically-managed health care system as being demanded by CDWR.”
