By Ola  Ajayi

IBADAN—HOPES of many patients at the Oyo State Hospitals were dashed yesterday as doctors began a two-day warning strike over non-payment of their Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, CONMESS, and poor working conditions.

Patients who went to the Adeoyo Maternity Centre and the Jericho Nursing Home, Ibadan were disappointed as the wards were empty.

When they waited endlessly without any doctor attending to them, they had to go elsewhere for medical attention.

The doctors had sounded a warning signal last week as they told the state government to either heed their demands or face the strike. Apart from their alleged poor condition of service, they also alleged that they were the least paid doctors in the country.

The medical practitioners under the auspices of the National Association of Medical and Dental Officers, AMDO, through their secretary, Dr. Fola Oni said the warning strike was to alert the government to be on its toes and accede to the demands of the doctors.