After three days of torment for patients, Anambra doctors suspend strike

Medical doctors in Anambra State have suspended the indefinite strike they declared on Thursday after three days.

The doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had declared the strike, following the kidnap of one of their colleagues.

The declaration was not an impromptu thing as the association had first issued a warning upon the kidnap of Dr Steven Ezeh, a private practitioner in Ihiala, who is the Chief medical director of Vera Clinic Ihiala. He was abducted at his residence in Umunnamehi Village, Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area on Aug 15.

NMA in an emergency general meeting on Monday, a day after the incident, issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the release of Ezeh.

It said: “The kidnappers had requested 40 million ransom at first and subsequently N30 million within 24 hours. A 48-hour ultimatum is hereby given to the Anambra State Government to secure the immediate release of Dr Ezeh.

“If at the expiration of the above timeline, our member’s release is not secured, all the doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA-Anambra will down tools until our member is released.

“⁠An emergency meeting will be convened within the next 48 hours to review the progress made so far.”

Acting true to their threat, the association met on Thursday and directed members to withdraw clinical services in all private and public hospitals in the state with immediate effect.

This was the point where the torment for sick people in the state started.

A trader, Mrs Onyekachi Ugwueze, who took her mother to Regina Caeli Hospital for treatment on Friday, lamented that there were no services from doctors.

“At some point, someone directed that we should take her to a private hospital, but I was surprised that as we were about to leave, we received information that even private hospitals are not open.

“Friday was a horrible day for us. We only used the advice of some experts to do self medication on our mother,” he lamented.

For the Ugwuezes, self medication through expert advice may have worked for them, but who knows how many other people who may have lost their lives because of inability to access quality healthcare?

In the same Regina Caeli Hospital, a free medical outreach program which was to be organized for the patients, was later cancelled until further notice.

A notice to that effect, which was circulated read: “the free eye outreach will not hold till further notice! This is due to the unforeseen medical strike that started today, 23/08/2. All inconveniences are highly regretted.”

Reprieve, however, came on Sunday, when MMA announced the release of Dr Ezeh, and subsequent suspension of the strike.

Dr Princeton Okam and Dr Obiaeli Ifeanyi, the NMA Chairman and the Secretary, respectively in another press statement said: “The total and indefinite strike called by NMA Anambra Branch to protest the kidnap of our member, Dr Stephen Ezeh is hereby called off following his release.

“Clinical services resumes 08:00 hours Sunday Aug 25.

“We appreciate the good people of Anambra for bearing with us through these trying times while we earnestly pray that this tribulation will not arise again.

“We appreciate our colleagues for their solidarity and doggedness in the face of the challenges facing the sector, especially insecurity and urge them to remain resolute and committed towards delivering healthcare to Anambra people.”

The frequency of strikes by professionals in Anambra State as a result of insecurity, resulting in the kidnap of their members have become high.

DAILY POST recalls that in May this year, lawyers under the aegis of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, had also crippled the justice delivery sector over the kidnap of their member.

The lawyers embarked on a one-day boycott of courts to press home their demand for the release of their colleague abducted by gunmen, before they also declared an indefinite strike like the NMA.

Their member, Mr. Chukwubuikem Azoro, who is the Secretary of NBA Idemili branch, was kidnapped by gunmen at Abagana, Njikoka local government area around 8:30 pm last Saturday and has not been released.

Mr. Chukwubuikem Obianyo, the Idemili branch Publicity Secretary of NBA revealed that Azoro’s captors had demanded a ransom for his release, although he did not state the amount.

Reacting on the development, the lawyers said their decision to boycott courts was to enable them pursue the immediate release of Azoro.

Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of NBA branches in Anambra State, Mr. I.C. Nsofor said the statewide boycott was to support a similar action already taken by the Idemili branch of NBA.

A statement issued by the lawyers read in part: “In response to this distressing situation, the members of the Idemili Branch have unanimously resolved to take a stand against such criminal acts.

“Therefore, all members of the NBA Idemili Branch shall be boycotting appearances in all courts within and outside our jurisdiction.

“Additionally, members of the Idemili branch pledge to abstain from representing individuals charged with kidnapping or armed robbery until further notice.”

Though many have praised Soludo for his initial war against criminals masquerading as freedom fighters, who had initially taken over some local government areas, others are of the view that he has relapsed in those efforts, leading to insecurity in the state.