The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, has commenced a five-day warning strike beginning May 22, 2025, to protest worsening conditions in the hospital.
In a statement released after an emergency general meeting, the doctors cited several challenges, including the lack of functional medical equipment, the non-operational intensive care unit (ICU), delays in the installation of a CT scan machine, and poorly equipped operating theatres.
Other key concerns include the lack of departmental accreditation, which prolongs residency training and forces resident doctors to seek expensive external postings.
‘Homeless doctors’
The doctors also highlighted severe staff shortages, inadequate accommodation with some house officers reportedly sleeping in call rooms, and critical drug and supply shortages that are hampering patient care.
“Most hospital departments lack accreditation, prolonging training duration for medical residents and subjecting them to unnecessary hardships associated with external postings and their economic implications.
“There is a significant shortage of manpower across all departments, leading to burnout and stress among members. There is a severe lack of accommodation for members, particularly house officers, with over 10 currently homeless and sleeping in call rooms,” the association said.
Other issues raised include the abandonment of the new orthopaedic centre, 13 months of unpaid revised CONMESS arrears, 24 months of unpaid accoutrement allowance, delays in the 2025 MRTF payment, and discrepancies in salary adjustments.
“There has been a failure to pay 13 months of revised CONMESS arrears, despite constant reminders to the Ministry of Health. Members have not received 24 months of accoutrement allowance, and there has been a refusal to initiate monthly payments similar to those of our Federal Government counterparts.
“This situation is exacerbated by months of unpaid salaries. Efforts to convince hospital management to provide accommodation have failed, despite the existence of numerous apartments previously occupied by our members, now occupied by other persons,” it added.
The doctors are demanding immediate action, including installation of medical equipment, staff recruitment, improved drug supply, restoration of departmental accreditation, and payment of all outstanding entitlements.
They warned that if significant progress were not made by their next general meeting on June 19, they would embark on an indefinite strike.
“We declare a five-day warning strike arising from this Emergency General Meeting. The issues outlined here, along with others discussed, will be reviewed at our Second Ordinary General Meeting scheduled for June 19, 2025. If satisfactory progress on the above-stated matters is not achieved, we will initiate an indefinite strike without further notice,” it added.
Despite the industrial action, the doctors reaffirmed their commitment to patient care and staff welfare.
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