大象传媒

Doctors in Nigeria's public hospitals have started a 鈥渢otal and indefinite strike鈥� over what they describe as the government鈥檚 failure to address their grievances.

Among their demands, they are asking for the immediate payment of all salaries and a new hazard allowance.

The Nigeria Medical Association says at least 50 doctors leave Nigeria every week to work abroad. Poor working conditions, coupled with bad pay and the rising cost of living are the main factors.

Dr Emeka Orji Innocent is president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. He says it is critical that the government 鈥渜uickly replaces the doctors and nurses that have left鈥�. He explains that those who are currently working in Nigeria 鈥渁re overworked. So many of them are breaking down and some are dying. Almost on a weekly basis we get reports from across the country of our members losing their lives in the line of duty鈥�Of all the demands we have, the very urgent ones can be addressed in a day or two and if they do that, of course we will suspend the strike and come back to our posts.鈥�

(Picture: Shows Dr Emeka Orji Innocent, president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. Credit: Dr Emeka Orji Innocent.)

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