Caregivers at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Rivers State, have voiced growing concerns over the welfare and safety of their hospitalized relatives, as nurses across federal health institutions commenced a seven-day warning strike.
The nationwide industrial action, which began on Wednesday, is spearheaded by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
The union is demanding long-overdue reforms to their salary structure, improved welfare benefits, and urgent attention to persistent issues such as inadequate staffing, overwhelming workload, and poor infrastructure.
At UPTH, reports indicated a complete absence of nurses from their duty posts, significantly disrupting daily hospital routines.
Caregivers, who are now forced to shoulder some of the responsibilities typically handled by nurses, say they are distressed by the current situation.
Many noted that doctors have also been largely unavailable, leaving patients in a state of neglect.
“Since morning, just one doctor has come to see my son. Since that time till now, he has not come back to check on him. We are just believing in God,” lamented a mother caring for her hospitalized child.
Another caregiver expressed dissatisfaction over the situation, saying, “We have not seen any nurse since morning. It’s the doctors that brought us to the hospital, not the nurses.”
One more caregiver revealed they have had to assist with basic patient care themselves, “We’ve been stepping in to do some of the things the nurses were doing for the patients.”
The strike action follows the federal government’s failure to respond to a fifteen-day ultimatum issued by the union. Despite a conciliatory meeting with government officials on Tuesday, the nurses proceeded with the strike.
Further discussions with the Minister of Labour, Muhammad Dingyadi, are scheduled to resume on Friday.
