The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT-TH), Parklane, Enugu has on Friday 24th April, 2020 withdrawn their service indefinitely following what was described as “the non-implementation of the written approval and reassurances given to the association by the Enugu State Government”.

This was communicated in a communiqué signed by the President and the General Secretary of the associations, Dr Chima Emmanuel Edoga and Dr Chukwunonso N. Ofonere respectively. In the communiqué, it was observed “that ARD ESUT-TH Parklane have been in a protracted struggle for improvement of working conditions vis-a-vis upgrade from a fraction of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) of 2009 currently being paid to her members since 2014 to the CONMESS of 2019, as obtainable in Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FTHIs) and many State Tertiary Health Institutions (STHIs)” It was also revealed that “there is a gross disparity in the entry points for medical doctors between ESUT-TH and these other FTHIs”.

Several efforts was said to have been made by the association appealing to the Enugu State Government to improve the welfare of her members. The communiqué acknowledged however, that the State Government has in the past set up committees in addition to several verbal promises but none has yielded any fruit.

Recall that the ARD ESUT-TH Parklane, embarked on a withdrawal of service on 26th March, 2020 to press home their demand for the improvement of their welfare. However, the withdrawal of service was suspended the following day as the Executive Governor of Enugu State gave them a written approval for their demands in a letter Ref No GHS/57/S.2/III/270 and dated 26th March, 2020 effective 1st April, 2020. The suspended withdrawal of service was however conditional, contingent upon the full implementation of the written approval from the Executive Governor, in April 2020.

The communiqué noted that the members of the association were shocked and dismayed on receipt of the April 2020 salary, as the State Government eventually reneged on the written approval. This was the reason for the resumption of the previously suspended withdrawal of service.

The communiqué called on the State Government to keep to its words as the suspension of the ongoing withdrawal of service can only come after the full implementation of the approval with Ref No GHS/57/S.2/III/270.

Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane is the only tertiary health institution in Enugu metropolis with overwhelming patients’ load. It is one of the few centres designated as COVID-19 isolation centre.

Only If They Will Keep To Their Words

I just pity the unfortunate patients currently in the hospital. Everyday, bad news. No single good news in this Shit Hole.