The Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso, has raised alarm that their isolation center can only accommodate four patients.
The doctors, in a statement made available journalists on Friday, also raised alarm over the poor negligence and handling of coronavirus in Oyo state.
In the statement, which was jointly signed by its President, Dr. Akinbola I.A and General Secretary, Dr. Usman A, the residents doctors alleged gross inadequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) including face masks, sanitizers DISPOSABLE GOWNS, and Hazmat suits in most government hospitals within the state, including LAUTECH teaching hospital.
The association also decried perennial problems of pay disparity with colleagues across the countries, saying the government is still owing them 50% salary arrears for two years amounting.
The association then called for a comprehensive insurance policy to protect health workers in the State health institutions.
They also urged Governor the Seyi Makinde-led government to have the people at heart and take the necessary steps towards implementing their suggested recommendations.
PRESS RELEASE BY ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS, LAUTECH TEACHING HOSPITAL, OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE.
THE CURRENT PANDEMIC OF CORONA VIRUS: A REFLECTION OF THE STATE HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE STATE (OYO STATE).
Association of Resident Doctors note that these are perilous times for the country and the world
at large. Since 27th February 2020 when the first Covid-19 case was announced in Nigeria its
daily infection rate rise has been astronomical. We wish to commend and appreciate the Oyo
State government for swift response towards the pandemic. The state has had its own fair share
of the pandemic. As at 11:25pm on April 22, 2020 it has recorded 17 cases. We however have
noticed the following observations that. The current pandemic has exposed our abysmal low
level of preparedness for infectious diseases outbreaks in the health system of the country
especially in the State Tertiary Health Institution like that of ours in LAUTECH Teaching
Hospital, Ogbomoso. Nigeria Center for Disease and Infection Control has confirmed 873 cases
in the country at 11.22pm on 22 nd of April 2020; with 648 active cases, 197 discharged and 28 deaths so far in the country.
We however have observed the following that
1. There is GROSS inadequate supply of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) including
face masks, sanitizers DISPOSABLE GOWNS, and Hazmat suits in most government
hospitals within the state INCLUDING ĹTH.
2. The isolation center in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso has capacity to admit
only four patients.
3. That health workerS in State Tertiary Health Institutions are under-appreciated across the
country but that of Oyo State is becoming alarming.
4. That there is erroneous belief that only health workers in isolation centers are frontline
health workers while those working elsewhere who first come in contact with most of
these patients and make initial diagnosis are not regarded as frontliners.
5. There is no comprehensive insurance policy to protect health workers in the State health
institutions.
6. THE CORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES BY THE COVID-19 TEAM CAN BE IMPROVED UPON BY COLLABORATING WITH LTH AND OTHER
GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OUTSIDE THE STATE CAPITAL FOR EFFECTIVE
RESPONSE TOWARDS DEFEATING THE SCOURGE OF COVID-19 ACROSS THE ENTIRE OYO STATE
7. That the state is yet to address – the issues of our perennial problems of pay disparity with RELATIVE TO other tertiary health institutions ACROSS THE NATION INCLUDING SISTER STATE TEACHING HOSPITALS,
– our 2 years 50% salary arrears amounting to one year full salary.
– WE are also yet to begin to enjoy minimum wage payment approved AND BEEN
BENEFITED BY other WORKERS IN THE STATE since January 2020.
We therefore make the following recommendation to the State government for immediate implementation that:
1. Oyo state Government should as a matter of urgency make provision for adequate and
appropriate PPEs including Hazmats’s suit for health workers combating this dreadful
virus across THE STATE.
2. The Isolation Centre at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso be upgraded to
accommodate more patients while adequate arrangement be made to improve the
manpower of the hospital.
3. That the Virology Laboratory in the College of Health Sciences LTH OGBOMOSO be
upgraded to Biosafety level 3 ALONGSIDE WITH APPROPRIATE PERSONNELS SO AS TO IMPROVE TESTING CAPACITY IN THE STATE AND ALSO TO SERVE FUTURE PURPOSES.
4. The health workers in the State be properly appreciated both morally and financially as
recently done by the Federal Government to appreciate the people who have been on the
frontline of the virus battle.
5. All health workers in the country are frontline health workers same as those in isolation
centers.
6. That a group life insurance policy be put in place in the State to cater for indemnity of our
members during the course of discharging their duties.
7. That our PERENIAL CHALLENGES /problem in the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso be ratified with utmost urgency it deserves vis a vis payment of one year full salary arrears, implementation of corrected CONMESS for payment of salary to attract more doctors to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso and enrolment of our staff into new minimum wage payment platform in the State AS WELL AS GOOD FUNDING FOR THE HOSPITAL.
We make above observation and recommendations bearing in mind the State government have her people at heart and necessary steps will be taken towards implementing them.
