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Doctors in Nigeria's public hospitals have started a “total and indefinite strike” over what they describe as the government’s failure to address their grievances. Among their demands, they are asking for the immediate payment of all salaries and a new hazard allowance. The Nigeria Medical Association says at least 50 doctors leave Nigeria every week to work abroad. Poor working conditions, coupled with bad pay and the rising cost of living are the main factors. Dr Emeka Orji Innocent is president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. He says it is critical that the government “quickly replaces the doctors and nurses that have left”. He explains that those who are currently working in Nigeria “are overworked. So many of them are breaking down and some are dying. Almost on a weekly basis we get reports from across the country of our members losing their lives in the line of duty…Of all the demands we have, the very urgent ones can be addressed in a day or two and if they do that, of course we will suspend the strike and come back to our posts.” (Picture: Shows Dr Emeka Orji Innocent, president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. Credit: Dr Emeka Orji Innocent.)