Date: 2015-02-20

Following the suspension of strike by the Kwara branch of health workers under the umbrella of Coalition of Health Sector Unions (COHESU) on February 3, patients are now patronising public owned hospitals in the state for medical treatment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on Thursday the General Out-patients Department (GOPD) of the Ilorin General Hospital was filled to capacity with patients who came to assess healthcare services.

Chief Nursing Superintendent in the hospital, Mrs Risikat Oyewole, said she was glad to be back at work, adding that the hospital witnessed huge turnout of patients.

“I feel very happy to return to work, but we want government to please assist us by looking into our requests as soon as possible,” she urged.

Oyewole described the turnout of patients as very impressive, saying nurses have been delivering healthcare services at the maximal level to them.

Similarly, a patient who simply identified himself as Suleiman, said: “I am happy they (health) workers are back to work and I can see how passionate they are to give out maximum care for we the patients on bed.’’

Another aged woman, Aishat Lamidi, commended the state health workers for calling off the strike and enjoined them against embarking on such action in the interest of the masses.

A similar scenario was recorded at the Adewole Cottage Hospital, Olorunsogo, was congested with patients, who thronged the hospital for medical attention.

A Nurse, Mrs Akinwumi Olushola, told NAN that the hospital recorded large number of patients when the strike was called off.

The strike had paralysed healthcare service delivery in the state owned hospitals before it was called off on Feb. 3. (NAN)