The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, declared that it had never suspended the night shift or embarked on strike as erroneously perceived by members of the public.
It was reported that the Joint Action Committee, a coalition of all hospital unions except the ARD and Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria of the institution, had instructed its members to reduce their work schedule by working between 8am and 4pm daily.
The decision was to protest against the disconnection of UCH power supply by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company over alleged N495m unpaid electricity bills.
In a statement by its President and General Secretary, John Oladapo and Gboyega Ajibola, respectively, in Ibadan, the state capital, ARD said the association stood in solidarity with all health workers concerning the sub par working conditions.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to some publications in the media that have been misleading the public about the prolonged power outage at the University College Hospital. These reports have stated that ‘UCH doctors suspend night shift, begin strike Tuesday” or similar variations, which are untrue, not accurate and a distortion of the events.
“It has been widely reported that the IBEDC disconnected the power supply to the UCH due to a billing disagreement. As a result, patient care has been hampered, healthcare delivery has become suboptimal, and there has been an increased risk of hazard to all the hospital’s health workers.
“The ARD-UCH stands in solidarity with all health workers concerning the sub-par working conditions. It is, however,important to let the public know that UCH doctors stand at their duty posts, providing essential care and service to those in need”.
