Senate calls for truce regarding JOHESU strike
On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate issued an appeal to the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to call off its nationwide strike claiming it has affected the health sector across the country.
healthnews.africa reported the health workers began the industrial action to address what they called the “insensitivity and lackadaisical attitude of drivers of the health sector”.
Contributing, Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Olushola Adeyeye called on the Senate to intervene for a quick resolution of the ongoing strike by health workers.
The lawmakers made the resolution in response to a motion on “Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Need to Take Precautionary Measures that was raised by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu at the plenary session.
In combating Ebola, the senators enjoined Nigeria’s interior minister to take necessary steps to check immigration. The News Agency of Nigeria reported the lawmakers further urged the Minister of Health to ensure alertness to combat whatever cases that might arise and get Ebola vaccines ready for an emergency.
Reminiscing on the 2014 Ebola outbreak that claimed lives in Nigeria, Senator Tinubu who heads the Senate Committee on Environment said the tide, as at then, was stemmed by quick response of the government. She said that recent reports by the WHO, showed that the disease was back in the Democratic Republic of Congo with 19 deaths and 39 infected casualties recorded so far.
On his part, Sen. Victor Umeh APGA-Anambra) noted that “prevention of the disease was better than cure.
“We must ensure that Nigeria is not taken unawares again. We should be on the alert,” he said.
Responding, Senate President, Bukola Saraki directed all stakeholders to ensure that adequate steps are taken to forestall an Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.