For a couple of days now, the major story making the headlines of most newspapers, radios, television and the online media is the strike action that Medical Doctors in the government sector have embarked upon.

What is the issue? According to the Ghana Medical Association, they are protesting government’s attempt to pay their allowances in installments after an earlier agreement to pay it in full. Government on the other hand is saying things are difficult for the country now so the doctors should just do with the installments for now.

The issue has therefore turned into a blame game. While the doctors are laying the blame at the doorsteps of the government, the government is also blaming the doctors.

As far as I’m concerned, the issue is not about who is right or who is wrong. It is the numerous innocent lives that are being lost and the ones that will continue to be lost that matter. From the way things are going, it looks like government is sending the doctors straight to hell and the doctors in turn are sending the patients to the same destination. I heard government has issued a statement and a list of private hospitals that patients could go and access healthcare with their insurance cards as well as the Police and Military hospitals. I come from Peki and as far as I can remember, there is no private hospital or clinic as an alternative to attend to people even if they have money. Doctors are still attending to emergency cases and given ultimatum when they will go totally off if their concerns are not addressed by then. If that should happen, it will take a patient in an emergency condition about three hours to get to Accra from Peki to access treatment at the subscribed hospitals. The question is whether the person can survive the stress. I don’t even want to talk about many villages across the country where it will take several hours or even the entire day to get to Accra that is if they can even afford their transportation.

It is as if both the government and the doctors are playing ‘jaskele’ with our lives. We must not forget that a life once lost cannot be retrieved. What this means is that, none of the people who will lose their lives as a result of this action will come back to life even if the issues are resolved later.

I therefore want to use this medium to humbly appeal to the Doctors to rescind their decision on humanitarian grounds and in service to our dear nation, as it is in our National Pledge, and go back to the consulting rooms to save lives. Apart from the doctors, government pharmacists are also on strike. The last time pharmacists went on strike, HIV patients were unable to receive their anti retroviral drugs which sustains them. We all know what that means if that should continue. Government and the labour commission for the sake of the innocent people should use soft tone to convince the doctors, pharmacists, UTAG and all those on strike to call off the strike action as they move to quickly address their grievances for it is said that it is with a soft voice and patience that one can convince a king.

I also want to plead with all politicians to keep their political opinions and partisanship to themselves. We definitely do not need it in this situation as it will only worsen the case.

Let’s swallow our pride and come together to convince the doctors to call off the strike just for the sake of the innocent ones. I hope we can resolve this issue as quickly as possible as a nation and move forward together.

GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA.

Benedicta Baka Email:benedictabaka@yahoo.co.uk .