The Medical Guild, an association of Lagos State Government-employed medical and dental practitioners, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government headed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to address doctors’ welfare following the death of three principal medical officers at Alimosho General Hospital in Lagos within five days.
The deceased identified in a press release sent to QEDNG on Monday are Drs Otukoya, Aluko and Shuaib.
Dr Shuaib was the latest casualty among the trio. He died on Monday.
The guild said in the release, after an emergency officer committee, and expanded executive council meetings, signed by its chairman Dr Sa’eid Ahmad and secretary Dr Moruf Awodun that the “deaths might have been related to one form of chronic illness or the other, believed aggravated by stress.”
It also said that the phenomenon of brain drain, and its attendant work overload for the doctors remaining onshore, and the negative consequences of manpower shortage have been repeatedly emphasised to the employer.
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The resolutions taken at the meetings over the deaths, according to the statement, are: “That a Three-Day Mourning Period is hereby by declared across the Lagos State Health System. During this period all Lagos State-employed Medical/Dental practitioners are to conduct in solemn manner in respect for our dead colleagues.
“In Alimosho General Hospital, the centre where all three late colleagues practised, all elective procedures are to be Rescheduled within this period. Only Emergencies are expected to be attended to. This is in deference to the deep psychological state surviving colleagues in that centre must be going through and as a mark of respect for these fallen heroes.
“Pursuant to the Comprehensive Position Paper already forwarded to Mr Governor, the Lagos State Government is hereby issued a 48-hour period within which actual meaningful engagement with the Medical Guild on all Welfare matters affecting doctors in Lagos State is to be convened.”
