Peter Dada, Akure
As public workers in Ondo State continued with the industrial action declared by organised labour on Thursday, families of patients on admission in government hospitals in the state began to withdraw them out of the hospitals as a result of the absence of medical workers.
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had embarked on an indefinite strike to protest against the failure of the state government to pay their five months’ salary arrears.

At most of the government hospitals visited by our correspondent in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, some patients on admission were helped out of their wards by their relatives.The Nigeria Medical Association and National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners on Wednesday directed all their members to join the industrial action.
It was gathered that as the patients were leaving the government hospitals, they were being taken to private hospitals in the state to continue their treatment.
This has increased the patronage of private clinics.
A patient in one of the public hospitals, who identified himself as Alfred Akinkunmi, told our correspondent that he left his bed when there were no medical personnel to attend to the patients at the government hospital where he was admitted.