Oyo Government not taking our welfare seriously-Health Workers

 

Some health workers in Oyo state have expressed reservations over the continued delay of the state government to meet their demands.

The health workers, who are members of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP), Hospital Management Board unit, lamented that the state government ''is not taking our welfare seriously.''

''The state government has continued to treat health workers on its payroll with levity. We are not happy about this, the government should urgently address our demands, they stated.

However, the chairman of the unit, Comrade Olanrewaju Ajani disclosed that of all the demands of the health workers, the state government had only reviewed the hazard allowance.

''Before the 21-day ultimatum we gave the state government on 4th March 2024 elapsed, the government appealed to us to be patient. We appeal to the state government to do something on time. We have provided enough evidence. It is only the hazard allowance that has been attended to of all our demands,'' Comrade Ajani concluded.

Electricity Cut-UCH Workers Further own Interests

Health professionals at the University College Hospital(UCH)Ibadan, Nigeria have taken advantage of the disconnection of the electricity in the hospital by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company(IBEDC) to further their self and pecuniary interests.

However, patients in the hospital have continued to lament the difficulties and hardships they are experiencing as a result of the lack of electricity supply in the hospital for over a week now.

The health professionals who own various health facilities scattered across the state capital now refer patients there.

''They are now referring us to private facilities for tests, treatment and x-ray. The costs of these facilities are very high and beyond our reach. UCH should amicably resolve the issues with IBEDC for electricity to be restored,'' the patients stated.

Meanwhile, health workers in the hospital have expressed reservations over the absence of electricity in the hospital for the past one week.

The workers spoke through the branch chairman of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP), Comrade Oladayo Olabampe.

''UCH is owing IBEDC about N500 million and on Tuesday last week the electricity distribution company disconnected power supply to the entire hospital. IBEDC has insisted that the hospital must pay a substantial amount of the debt before connection can be effected. Our members are going through stress and risk because of the duties they are employed for. We have decided that if electricity is not restored by Tuesday 2nd April 2024, we will reduce our working hours from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm. It would no longer be 24 hours, even though the hospital works for 24 hours, Comrade Olabampe stated.

Teaching Hospitals Decay-We Trust Our Representatives to do the right thing-NUAHP

Nigerians rely on their elected representatives to salvage the University Teaching Hospitals from total collapse. This assertion was made on Monday by the Chairman of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), who also doubles as the Chairman of the union at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Oladayo Olabampe. Presently, there is a Bill before the Federal House of Representatives for the amendment of the University Teaching Hospital (Reconstitution of Boards etc.) Act CAP U15 LFN 2004 sponsored by Honourable Bamidele Salam representing Ede North/Ede South /Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun State. The Bill, seeks to curtail the unending acrimony among professionals in the teaching hospitals by ensuring that all critical stakeholders are involved in the composition of the boards of Teaching Hospitals, with a view to making them more vibrant and efficient. "Nigerians rely so much on their representatives that we trust them.We trust them to do the right thing. The bill has passed second reading and is now for public hearing. Come the 27th of this month, we don't have to doubt them, we should rather appreciate them for rising up to the challenge. It is because we were not ready in the last 37 years, now that we arewake I know that the bill will be given final assent, " ''Our faictilities are collapsing, but the leaders in the health sector are only interested in how to make money rather than providing equipment for the hospitals. The hospitals are deteriorating. If the foundation be destroyed what can the righteous do? Thanks to Hon. Bamidele Salam, we were treating signs and symptoms, but the case is different. The amended Act will correct ou past error,''Comrade Olabampe concluded.

The Challenges of NUAHP are not different from other unions in Nigeria-OYO NUAHP Chairman

Workers in Nigeria have continuously lamented their poor conditions of service and poor welfare. In this interview, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP), Oyo state council, Comrade Oladayo Olabampe insists that his union has similar challenges. Excerpts : How has been in journey so far, as regards addressing issues of leadership in your union? God has being helping us. And members of the union have been cooperative with the help of God we have had a smooth journey. Although it has not been easy, we have tried our bets. God has helped us in most of the issues while we are still discussing some others, the Government is giving attention to a number of the issues and some are still undergoing some struggle. What are the highlights of your achievements? The major achievements start with the fact that we have a listening Governor, and we also interact with organs of the Government. When we have issues they listen to us, when we have some issues the state Government listens to us. Committees have sat and the outcome of their sittings are recommendations awaiting favorable implementations. There is the issue of teaching allowances, for years my members have been denied teaching allowances. These allowances are given to staff who are not employed to teach, but find themselves teaching. To teaching allowances are given to them as compensation. For some time now the Government has denied them the teaching allowances. In addition, the Government shall implement the CONHESS (Consolidated Health Salary Structure)salary scale for health professionals, this is the equivalent used for physicists, CONMESS(. We have made a case for the consequential adjustment of CONHESS(Consolidated Health Salary Structure for our members. This has also received attention, and it is awaiting implementation. When we mounted the saddle we commenced the compilation of data of health professionals who are gainfully employed. The result is the acute shortage of health professionals. Although the Government has employed some health professionals, there is an improvement, we are still expecting more. What about the challenges confronting your union? Our challenges are not different from other unions. Our number one challenge is that the Government always complains of lack of funds. We have made a strong case for our members regarding welfare. A major challenge is the mass exodus of our members to foreign countries to seek greener pastures. The exodus has created a lot of vacancies at both the State, Federal and Local Governments. The rate of exodus is not in tandem with the rate of recruitment. This has resulted in the shortage of health professional in the health sector. The brain drain has also not helped matters. However, we want our members to practice in their fatherland, but we hope the Government at all levels shall create an enabling environment.