The Association of Resident Doctors, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, ARD-DELSUTH, has threatened to go on strike over what it described as worsening welfare conditions and inadequate facilities in the hospital.

The doctors listed among others unpaid arrears, lack of essential equipment, and poor infrastructure as major challenges confronting them.

The Association’s president, Dr Oghenetega Ejeheri, in a statement condemned the non-payment of 13 months of revised CONMESS arrears and 25 months of accoutrement allowance arrears, despite repeated reminders to management.

“It is unacceptable that our members continue to work under these conditions while arrears continue to pile up. These allowances are not privileges; they are entitlements,” Dr Ejeheri said.

ARD-DELSUTH equally decried the absence of critical equipment needed for effective healthcare delivery.

The doctors promised life-saving machines such as ventilators, advanced multi-parameter monitors, and instruments for the abandoned Orthopaedic Centre have yet to be provided.

“Patients still have to be referred to Warri for basic radiological investigations because our CT scanner lacks an automated contrast injector. This defeats the purpose of having the machine in the first place,” the communiqué stated.

Speaking on manpower shortages, the association noted that limited recruitment in a few departments had not eased the burden, leaving resident doctors overworked.

The doctors further criticized the deplorable state of call rooms, saying many doctors are forced to sleep in their cars or share beds due to inadequate facilities.

They also condemned the abandonment of the house officers’ quarters and their exclusion from the hospital’s housing allocation committee, describing it as a deliberate attempt to sideline the association.

The communiqué, however, noted a recent meeting between the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and a delegation of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Delta State, which had ARD DELSUTH represented.

The association acknowledged the governor’s commitment to addressing their concerns and said it has extended its earlier ultimatum in anticipation of swift action.

DELSUTH resident doctors threaten strike over poor welfare, others