The Association of Resident Doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, has proceeded on a five-day warning strike to demand better working conditions.

This was contained in a communique issued and signed by the President, Dr Olanipekun Quadri, and the General Secretary, Dr Olorunfemi Solomon, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Saturday.

The ARD said several demands by the Association, bordering on welfare and security issues, and the excessively porous situation at the Emergency Treatment Room (ETR) remained unresolved over time by the hospital management.

The Association clarified that the declaration of a warning strike shall not withdraw, suspend, replace, or otherwise invalidate the ongoing 21-day ultimatum previously issued to Hospital Management.

It called for immediate deployment of adequate armed security personnel to strategic, vulnerable and high-risk locations within the hospital premises, particularly areas identified as requiring enhanced security.

It also demanded immediate strengthening of security at the ETR, with adequate personnel and effective access control to prevent the unauthorized influx of patients’ relatives and other persons.

Other demands of the Association included

Immediate provision of adequate and functional lighting across the hospital premises, with particular attention to poorly illuminated areas used by healthcare workers during night duties.

The Association called for installation and activation of functional CCTV cameras within the ETR, with appropriate coverage of other identified high-risk areas of the hospital, to strengthen security, accountability and incident investigation, among others.

The Association noted with concern the recurrence of assaults and other forms of aggression against doctors and other healthcare workers within the hospital premises, thereby creating an unsafe and increasingly hostile working environment (Nigerian Tribune)