(http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/thumbnail.php?file=IMG_0924_201366629.jpg&size=article_medium) • Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, addressing the protesters on doctors' strike at the State House, Alausa Ikeja yesteray. With him are the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris (right), and the Special Adviser to the Lagos State
People from many local government areas of Lagos State yesterday stormed the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to protest the ongoing strike embarked upon by doctors in the state.
They displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Government and doctors, please embrace dialogue”; “You can’t intimidate Lagosians”; “Lagos doctors, stop the killing”, “fear God, stop strike”, among others.
The protesters, mostly women, were led by Evangelist Bola Popoola and Sesan Sowande.
They appealed to the governor to find a way of resolving the situation in order to prevent deaths occurring on daily basis in the state.
Sowande informed the governor that the protest was as a result of the effects the strike had had on the people.
“Many deaths are recorded on daily basis because the sick among us cannot receive medical attention. We acknowledge the efforts of the government in the area of health care delivery. But these are being destroyed by the striking doctors
“We cannot fold our hands and allow the situation to continue. The government is doing its best, but the doctors earning fat salaries are not helping the matter”, Sowande said.
Popoola, in her contribution, said it was sad that “the doctors continue to hold residents to ransom”.
She said the majority of the doctors have private hospitals and will be glad to disrupt activities in government-owned hospitals, so as to attract patients from the public who are left with no other option.”
Popoola, who called for the immediate sack of doctors who refuse to yield to the public plea, said it was bad to use the strike to rubbish the efforts of the government in the health sector.
She said: “Any doctor with his or her own private hospital should be asked to retire. They cannot spoil the governor’s work because this government has done creditably well.”
Responding, Governor Fashola appealed to the residents to be calm, while assuring them that a lasting solution to the situation is in sight.
“Let me apologise to all Lagosians suffering from this situation that we find ourselves. Since 2002, government has been working to improve the conditions in which doctors and nurses operate in our hospitals, theatres, clinics and even the school of nursing. Hospitals don’t save lives. It is people who do so. We have been doing all these with your taxes. I assure you that we will end this strike soon.
“I appeal to you to be calm. We will continue to run free health mission in you various local government areas in order to ensure that you remain healthy,” Governor Fashola said.
TheNation