By Brenda Agba
The President, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Benue State Chapter, Dr. Michael Anenga, has assured that the association will suspend its on going strike if demands of members are met.
Dr. Anenga, gave this assurance in a telephone chat with The Voice explaining that, the strike was a decision taken by the association’s National Executive Council due to the inability of the federal and state governments to implement the Memorandum Of Action bordering on salaries, allowances and other benefits which was drawn during it’s general meeting held three months ago.
The President who is the Senior Registrar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) said though Resident Doctors in Benue have enjoyed regular payment of salaries, their hazard allowance has been Five Thousand Naira (N5000.00) only for close to twenty years, an amount he described as totally unacceptable.
“Another demand is the Medical Residency Training Fund which some states have refused to assent to. For us in Benue, we are lucky because Governor Samuel Ortom has given approval and implementation will commence any time from now”, he stated.
Dr. Anenga further expressed dismay that remuneration of Resident Doctors in the state is not commensurate with their counterparts in other states due to the non implementation of the National Minimum Wage. “But I am optimistic that the Benue State Government will also address that issue” he summed.
Meanwhile, during a visit to some hospitals including the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), The Voice observed that patients were being attended to by Consultants.