Medical activities at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital (FUTH) have been completely halted following the nationwide strike declared by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
Toscad News revealed that patients on admission have been evacuated, while medical personnel across departments; including emergency, outpatient, and antenatal units, have abandoned their duty posts in full compliance with the industrial action.
The indefinite strike, which began last Saturday, has already started taking a toll on citizens who rely on public hospitals for healthcare services.
During a monitoring visit to ensure full participation, the NARD State President, Dr. Jude Yepowudu, led members of the association’s leadership team around various sections of the hospital.
In an interview, Dr. Yepowudu decried the poor working conditions of doctors and other health workers in public hospitals, blaming the government for failing to prioritize their welfare and remuneration.
“Resident doctors make up the largest portion of Nigeria’s medical workforce, yet we remain neglected,” he said. “This strike is our collective effort to demand improved welfare and better working conditions. Many of us can no longer afford basic needs like rent or fuel. We are tired of empty promises.”
Several patients expressed frustration and disappointment, appealing to the government to resolve the dispute urgently to enable medical services to resume duty.
Mrs. Hanatu Peter and Hajiya Aisha Suleiman, who visited the hospital for antenatal care, described their experience as painful and disheartening.
“We came for antenatal services but were told to go back because doctors are on strike. We couldn’t even do our ultrasound scan,” they lamented. “The government should quickly meet the doctors’ demands so they can return to work.”
As the strike continues, anxiety is rising among patients and their families, particularly those with emergency or critical health conditions who had been turned away from the facility.
Meanwhile, private hospitals across Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, are witnessing a surge in patient numbers as residents seek alternative healthcare options amid the ongoing strike.
