The Civil Society for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria and other related organisations, say they will hold Government responsible for any AIDS related death due to ongoing nationwide strike in the hospitals.
They made this known in an open letter written to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Labour and Employment, on Sunday in Abuja.
The letter was signed by the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, Nigeria Diversity Network, Network of Religious Leaders Against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Civil Society Platform on Health and Treatment Action Movement Initiative.
Others are Nigeria Network of Youth Against HIV/AIDS, Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, New HIV/AIDS Microbicide Advocacy Group, Media Arts and Entertainment Network, Association of Positive Youth in Nigeria, Society for Women and AIDS in Nigeria and Association of Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
They noted that their members, who had appointments for their life-saving treatment could not access such, as the strike by Joint Health Workers Union continued to put their lives in danger.
“We cannot afford to record any AIDS related death or continued blockage of AIDS response implementing partners’ access to supported facilities where treatment is provided.
“It will lead to possible withdrawal of funding by the international donors as well as making us to miss the goal of ending AIDS in Nigeria.
“Technical officers who work for implementing partners cannot access the facilities to retrieve vital medical information of clients to enable them provide alternative treatment facilities where drugs can be accessed.
“95 per cent of HIV/AIDS treatment in Nigeria is supported by donors, shutting the facilities amount to sabotage of their investment in the AIDS response in particular and Nigeria in general”.
They added the strike was a threat to the success of the largest National HIV and AIDS survey commencing in June.
“This strike is a potential threat to the survey of which huge resources has been invested and committed to it.
“It is the largest survey ever to be conducted in the world and it is happening in Nigeria, we therefore, cannot afford to fail the international community”, the associations said in the letter.
NAN reports that JOHESU had began its nationwide strike on April 17, following the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreement signed with the unions.
The union’s demands include adjustment of CONHESS salary as done for CONMESS since 2014, and abolition of scale to scale promotion, payment of outstanding arrears of promotion, skipping and relativity.
Others are autonomy of teaching and specialist hospitals, non execution of court judgments, review of retirement age from 60-65 years as done for teachers in the tertiary education sector.(NAN)