Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of Federal Government-owned teaching hospitals and medical centres have been urged to come up with a robust and workable approach to stem incessant strikes in the health sector.
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II, said this when he received heads of the various teaching hospitals and Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) at his Alarere residence in Ibadan.
Heads of the federal medical hospitals, under the aegis of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals (CCMDFTH), paid the traditional ruler a courtesy visit.
The visit was part of the activities lined up for the Committee’s 103rd Regular Meeting, being hosted by the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Oba Balogun expressed worries over the incessant industrial actions in the health sector, especially in the tertiary health institutions and the attendant negative consequences.
Olubadan said the notoriety the nation’s health sector has assumed of recent when it comes to industrial action “calls for concern and serious brainstorming.”
Oba Balogun added in a release by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, that “the ongoing conference of the Committee is a veritable platform to thrash out the issue.
“I urge you to please use this occasion of your gathering together to discuss the menace and proffer workable and lasting solutions to the problem.
“In doing this, I want you to be open-minded and considerate of the general situation in the country.
“You are to bear in mind that where two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Let the love of our people be your guiding talk-point.
“It is an established fact that there are some irreducible minimum conditions under which you can function effectively and efficiently which I believe the present nation’s leadership would not deny.
“Let your relationship with it be more of dialogue rather than confrontation, bearing in mind that the sincerity of purpose of Mr. President is never in doubt from his displayed posture so far,” he added.
The first-class traditional ruler wished the medical practitioners a happy stay in his domain.
He also promised that he would interact with his colleague-obas across the country to lend traditional voice to their demands, as occasion may demand.
Oba Balogun asked the CMDs to feel free to relate with the traditional institution as partners in progress for the well-being of the citizenry.
Chairman of the Committee, Professor Emem Abasi Bassey, in his remark, urged the Olubadan to use his influence to assist in addressing some of their numerous challenges.
“We have a lot of challenges which we won’t bore you with. We can’t but mention that of power supply.
“Your hospital here, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, is groaning under a heavy burden of electricity bill.
“We would appreciate it, if Your Majesty’s could help reach out to the state government in a way to come to our aid.
“This is just one out of our various challenges which we are brainstorming over at our meeting.
“On behalf of our Committee, I thank Your Majesty for making time out to receive us as our meeting would not complete without this visit,” the CMD of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital added.
