Health Strike: Patient Left At The Mercies Of Nurses In Enugu

Patients were on Wednesday left at the mercy of nurses at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital in Enugu as resident doctors embarked on a strike.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored the strike in Enugu observed that some of the patients whose cases were severe had been moved out of the hospital by their relatives.

A nurse who pleaded anonymity told NAN that serious cases beyond their control had been referred to private clinics.

“As you can see, in this maternity ward where I work, expectant mothers who were booked for caesarean section have been discharged.

“The cases we have now in this maternity ward are those who gave birth and those we are sure that they will give birth naturally that we admitted in the hospital.

“Some patients were even discharging themselves without the consent of the hospital.

“I wonder why patients will pack their luggage and leave the hospital without informing the hospital authorities,” she said.

Agatha Ugbodiegwu, who was delivered of a baby, told NAN that the nurses were trying their best in taking care of the patients.

She said the nurses were checking them accordingly as they used to do before the strike.

At the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Ituku/Ozalla, consultants attended to patients as the resident doctors joined the nationwide strike.

An official told NAN that the hospital did not discharge its patients as the consultants and other personnel were equal to the task.

NAN observed at the ever busy hospital was, however, scanty even as patients who did not hear of the strike moved from one point to another seeking attention.