Dr. Uche Ojinmah, National President of the Nigerian Medical Association had revealed that doctors would embark on a nationwide strike if their abducted member in Cross River was not released within seven days.
He made this known during a briefing on Saturday with journalists in Calabar speaking on some of the measures the NMA would take to demand the release of their abducted colleague.
It would be recalled that Professor Ekanem Ephraim, a Neurologist with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was on July 13 abducted from her residence by armed men who pretended to be patients.
According to her family, the NMA in Cross River, in the last 25 days, has not received any response or proof that the doctor is alive.
Dr. Ojinmah said the body decided to make it clear that they would not accept anything except the return of the kidnapped doctor.
“We have had interactions with the governor and we have made it clear that if by the end of next week, we do not get results, we will take a tougher stance because we have watched the maltreatment of medical practitioners in Cross River in the last few years.
“Doctors as a group are being targeted, and that has to stop in Cross River, if it does not, there will be a national action that will have Cross River at the epicentre.
“We may withdraw our members so that those people who like kidnapping will have to treat the people of Cross River themselves,” he said.
The NMA national president called on the government of Cross River to take proactive measures to protect their important citizens, not only doctors.
While appealing to the kidnappers to return the abducted neurologist to her family and association, he called on the state government to make it a priority to contain any attempt to de-market Cross River, adding that they were not unmindful of the efforts of the governor and security agencies but Cross River was becoming a recurring decimal in the issue of kidnapping, especially in terms of doctors.
In July, PUNCH Healthwise reported that the NMA, Cross River State chapter, embarked on an indefinite strike following the kidnap of Prof. Ephraim.
The decision of the association was contained in a communiqué issued after its emergency meeting and signed by the NMA state Chairman, Dr. Felix Archibong and Secretary, Dr. Freeman Egbe.
NMA begins indefinite strike in Cross River over doctor’s abduction – Healthwise (punchng.com)
The NMA noted that all efforts made to ensure the release of its member has been futile.
This was not the first time the association would embark on a strike on account of the abduction of its member in Cross River.
Meanwhile, on August 2, it was reported that the NMA, Cross River Chapter, embarked on a peaceful protest against the kidnap of the doctor, to the House of Assembly
NMA protest doctor’s kidnap at Cross River Assembly – Healthwise (punchng.com)
The doctors, who came out in their numbers, carried placards with inscriptions such as, ‘Set Cross River Free From The Stranglehold of Kidnappers’, ‘Make Cross River Safe Again’.
Based on reports, in the last five years in Cross River, over 10 doctors have been kidnapped.
In November 2022, the Cross River State Police Command confirmed the release of two doctors, Joshua Omini and Egon Etim, alongside four others kidnapped along the Calabar/Ikom Highway.
The Police Public Relationships Officer, SP Irene Ugbo, who confirmed their release, said the victims were rescued at midnight by a tactical team around Oyanga Rubber Plantation in Akamkpa Council.
Another kidnap of a doctor, Dr. Godwin Udo of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, from his residence at Bateba Street on November 1, also led to another industrial action.
In July 2019, doctors also embarked on a strike over the abduction of their colleague, Dr. Inyama Marcus on his way from church in Akpabuyo.
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