The Ogun Government and patients in the state have appealed to striking doctors to return to work as most of their demands have been met.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, made the call in Abeokuta on Monday while speaking with journalists.
Ipaye described the strike as “unnecessary’’, adding that negotiations are ongoing with the striking doctors.
He disclosed that the state had just deployed 76 new nurses to the general hospitals while it had begun upgrade of facilities in the hospitals.
“We have deployed 76 new nurses to these hospitals just to fill some manpower gaps.
“We have also signed collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre for exchange programme where doctors who are in professional training can support our services.
“In terms of infrastructural upgrade, we have just given approval to some of these hospitals to use part of the internally generated revenue to upgrade their facilities which are ongoing,” he said.
He assured patients and residents that the strike would soon be called off as efforts were being made to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that patients who visited government-owned hospitals on Monday returned home disappointed as no doctor was on ground to attend to them.
Some of them told that they were told to come back on Wednesday as no doctor would attend to them on Mondays and Tuesdays.
They pleaded with the doctors and the state government to come to an agreement in the interest of the ailing masses.
Mrs Rita Ezegbu, an expectant mother, said she had an appointment with a doctor but she was told to reschedule it to Wednesday.
An official of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) who was knocked down by a commercial motorcyclist and rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaiye, was rejected as there was no doctor on duty.
NAN also reports that the doctors, under the aegis of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), last Friday began a staggered strike action to protest some issues.
The medical practitioners resolved to stay away from work on Mondays and Tuesdays till further notice.
They blamed government for the shortage of manpower, bad condition of service and payment of relativity among others. (NAN)