Hospitals Deserted as NARD Strike Enters Day Four: Patients in Pain and Uncertainty

As the indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) enters its fourth day, the atmosphere in government-owned hospitals across Lagos and beyond has turned bleak, filled with silence, pain, and uncertainty.

From the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL), and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, patients and their families now wait helplessly — not for doctors, but for the strike to end.

The resident doctors, protesting what they described as the Federal Government’s “unjust refusal” to pay ₦48 billion in outstanding allowances and its continued delay in salary payments, began the nationwide strike on October 27.

Unfortunately, the impact has been devastating. Appointments scheduled months or even years ago have been cancelled, and critical surgeries postponed indefinitely.

One affected parent at LASUTH, who had waited three years for her son’s corrective surgery, recounted her heartbreak:

“My son was booked after three years of back and forth. We finally got November 3 for his surgery, but now it’s been cancelled because of the strike. I don’t even know what to tell him anymore,” she said tearfully.

Another patient, Peter Adebayo, expressed similar frustration. He explained that after being turned back two weeks ago because his doctor was “too tired,” he returned on Monday only to find the doctors on strike. “Why are we being treated like this in this country?” he lamented.

A visit to LASUTH over the weekend showed nearly empty wards and clinics, with only nurses present. In the children’s ward, anxious parents paced the hallways, whispering prayers and making desperate phone calls.

“There were no doctors, not even consultants,” said a concerned visitor. “Usually when resident doctors strike, senior doctors step in, but this time, it’s empty. I just hope the government intervenes soon.”

The situation is the same at LUTH, Igbobi, and Yaba Neuropsychiatric Hospital, where resident doctors have fully complied with the national directive.

Dr. Toba Babarinsa, President of the Association of Resident Doctors at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, confirmed participation. “This is a national action,” he said. “We can only resume when the issues are resolved nationally.”

According to NARD’s National President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, the strike was declared after repeated ultimatums expired without government response.

“This is not just an industrial issue; it’s a national emergency. We expect the government to treat it as such,” he stated.

The doctors are demanding prompt salary payments, improved welfare, and better hospital funding. A LUTH resident doctor disclosed that salaries have been inconsistent. “Our September salary was paid on October 7, and we haven’t received October’s pay. A doctor who is overworked and underpaid is already a danger to patients,” he warned.

At Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, several surgeries have been postponed indefinitely, while the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital has suspended outpatient consultations, leaving patients without medication refills.

As the strike lingers, patients and their families continue to plead for a quick resolution. “We’ve waited too long,” one parent said. “It’s no longer just about surgery; it’s about saving lives that can’t wait.”