Healthcare services at the Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital (MAWTH) in Kano have been severely disrupted due to the nationwide strike organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). The strike, which began on Monday, is in protest against the Federal Government’s proposal of a ₦60,000 minimum wage.
Many patients, including those with scheduled appointments, have been left stranded without access to healthcare providers. Binta Muhammad, a diabetic patient, expressed her frustration at the lack of communication and rescheduling of appointments. She shared her experience of arriving early in the morning, only to find the hospital staff absent and no information on when services would resume.
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have come out this early. I came out by 6am and arrived at the hospital around 7am only to be told that there is nobody to attend to me. Now, I am left blinded without any tangible information and rescheduling of my appointment. I will just leave and come back when the strike is called off,” Binta said.
Despite the widespread disruption, a senior official at MAWTH, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that skeletal services are still being provided, although the extent of these services was not specified.
The nationwide strike has led to significant disruptions across various sectors, including healthcare, as workers push for improved wages and better working conditions.
