The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) has commenced a seven-day warning strike, citing what it described as years of systemic neglect in the healthcare sector.
In a communique jointly signed by its President, Dr. George Ebong, alongside other executive members, the association lamented the deteriorating state of public hospitals in the nation’s capital, warning that continued indifference from government authorities could lead to total collapse of the health system.
Dr. Ebong highlighted the daily struggles faced by medical practitioners in the FCT, who, due to manpower shortages, are often compelled to cover multiple departments simultaneously. He noted that the resulting burnout and fatigue not only endanger doctors’ well-being but also compromise the quality of care delivered to patients.
According to the association, the strike action became inevitable following repeated unfulfilled promises by the government to improve welfare and working conditions. Among the issues raised are poor infrastructure, non-functional equipment, irregular and unpaid salaries, delayed promotions, and underpayment of promoted staff.
The doctors insisted that urgent reforms are needed to restore confidence in the health system, adding that meaningful progress could only be achieved if frontline health professionals were included in decision-making processes.
“The FCT health system is facing an existential threat. Without immediate government intervention in staffing, welfare, and infrastructure, we may soon witness a total breakdown of service delivery,” Dr. Ebong stated.
ARD-FCT further gave the FCT administration a one-week deadline to begin visible reforms, warning that failure to address their demands could lead to a full-scale industrial action beyond the current warning strike.
The development has already sparked concerns among residents who fear that the disruption of services will worsen access to healthcare, particularly for patients in need of urgent medical attention.
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