UCH Resident Doctors Suspend Warning Strike, Resume Duty

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has suspended its three-day warning strike and directed members to return to their duty posts.

The doctors announced the suspension in a memo issued to members on Thursday, October 15, following the completion of the warning strike. The memo was signed by the association’s President, Dr Uthman Adedeji, and General Secretary, Dr Mary Awodiji.

According to the association, members were expected to resume work from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. Doctors were also directed to return to their respective duty posts as the association continues to monitor developments surrounding its demands.

The warning strike was embarked upon on Monday over what the resident doctors described as persistent challenges with electricity supply and inadequate water at the College of Medicine axis of UCH.

The doctors had demanded the immediate restoration of electricity to the affected area of the hospital, alongside urgent repairs to faulty circuit breakers that are expected to serve as backup power sources.

They also called for uninterrupted electricity supply across all parts of the hospital, stressing the importance of stable power and water infrastructure to the effective delivery of healthcare services and the working conditions of medical personnel.

Beyond the three-day warning strike, the ARD-UCH had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the hospital management, beginning October 12 and ending October 19.

The association had warned that it could commence an indefinite strike if the issues raised were not resolved within the stipulated period.

The suspension of the warning strike means resident doctors have returned to work, but the underlying concerns over electricity and water supply remain subject to further engagement between the doctors and UCH management.

The development is expected to provide temporary relief for patients and other users of the hospital, while attention remains focused on efforts to resolve the infrastructure challenges that prompted the industrial action in the first place.