By Olubukola Akanni
Health workers in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, say they are committed to fostering peace and work toward the development and growth of the hospital.
They spoke under the auspice of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), through Mrs Ronke Bello, its Coordinator, Oyo State chapter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the JAC is a committee of unions in UCH comprising: National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM); National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
Others are: Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institution (SSAUTHRIAI) and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
Bello said that health workers under the banner of JAC were not part of the false alarm being circulated on the Facebook and other social media by “some disgruntled and unpatriotic persons about the past leadership in UCH”.
According to her, contrary to what was being speculated in the social media, the relationship between health workers and management has always been cordial and will remain so for a long time.
“Health workers in UCH remain committed to the growth and development of the tertiary institution; even when there are contending issues, we treat such issues as they come and move on.
“The unions members had a cordial working relationship with the past Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge.
“We are sure he will say the same thing about health workers and management relationship in UCH.“It should be noted that the unions stand for truth. We stand for our right, and we speak in the open.
“We want to re-assure the hospital community and the present administration of the health workers unalloyed support in their bid to take the hospital to the next level.
“We are happy with how far the former CMD, Alonge had taken the hospital,” JAC state coordinator said.
She said that members ofthe unions were also happy with the appointment of the new CMD, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, adding that they were prepared to support his administration in moving the hospital forward.Alonge, the UCH immediate past CMD had said that his ability to end inter-professional rivalry, building of human resources and structures were some of his administration’s major achievements.
“We have structures and systems that would work independent of any individual; so we don’t have any overbearing management as it were.“But, each professional body is independent and excelling.
We have directors in most of the professional groupings and people are happy getting to the peak of their career.“There has been a gross reduction in agitations.
Inter-professional rivalry has dwindled,” Alonge had said shortly before his exit in UCH. (NAN)
