The organization of Resident Doctors at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, stated on Thursday that they had not stopped the night shift or gone on strike as wrongly thought by the public.
The report from The PUNCH states that the Joint Action Committee, a group of all hospital unions except the ARD and Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria of the institution, had told its members to reduce their work hours to 8am to 4pm daily.
This was to protest the disconnection of UCH's power supply by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company due to an alleged N495m unpaid electricity bills.
ARD, in a statement by its President and General Secretary, John Oladapo and Gboyega Ajibola, respectively, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the association stood with all health workers regarding the below-average working conditions.
The statement mentioned, “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 impacted, healthcare delivery has become less than optimal, 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 regarding the below-average working conditions. However, it is important to inform the public that UCH doctors are at their duty posts, providing essential care and service to those in need.”