- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Anambra Branch, has embarked on work strike in all private and public hospitals with effect from Thursday night over Kidnap of colleague.
This was contained in a directive issued in Awka by the branch Chairman and Secretary, Dr Princestonu Okam and Dr Ifeanyi Obiaeli, at the end of the association’s Emergency General Meeting on Thursday.
They stated that the directive was to protest against the kidnap of their colleague, Dr Stephen Ezeh, who had been in captivity since August 15.
The association stated that 48-hours after the ultimatum had elapsed, in addition to its appeal to the State Government, Ezeh was still held by his abductors, in spite of his health challenge.
In ensuring compliance to the directive, the association are set to mobilize their Strike Monitoring Team and penalize any defaulting hospital.
The statement read in part: “NMA Anambra hereby directs all doctors in the state to forthwith withdraw clinical services in all federal, state, private, mission, institutional and corporate hospitals in the state until our member is released.
“That NMA Anambra will painstakingly monitor compliance with the above directive through her ‘Strike Monitoring Team’ and that defaulting hospitals and members will be blacklisted and penalised, in line with the congress resolutions.
“That Anambra Government should activate all necessary security agencies and instruments at its disposal to ensure ‘’timely and unconditional release of our abducted member.
“NMA is not oblivious of the hardship this withdrawal of services will cause the good people of Anambra.
“However, we appeal to the State Government to expedite action towards securing Eze’s release of so as to restore normalcy to the health system.
“NMA Anambra leadership will continue to work together with all relevant government agencies to collectively achieve a healthy and secured populace.”