The association in a communique issued after the meeting jointly signed by NMA Enugu State Chapter chairman, Dr Celestine Ugwoke, and General Secretary, Rtn Dr Sunday Okafor, stated that the members would embark on an industrial action if the state government and security agencies failed to take action to secure the Medical and Dental Council workers in the state.
Rising from an Emergency General Meeting (EGM), the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has decried the abduction of 10 doctors in Enugu State and threatened to withdraw its services if the situation does not improve.
The association in a communique issued after the meeting jointly signed by NMA Enugu State Chapter chairman, Dr Celestine Ugwoke, and General Secretary, Rtn Dr Sunday Okafor, stated that the members would embark on an industrial action if the state government and security agencies failed to take action to secure the Medical and Dental Council workers in the state.
According to the medical body, 10 of its members had fallen victim to kidnap, particularly from their work places in the past two months.
The most recent outcry was the November 4, 2023 abduction from the workplace of Dr Orockarrah Orock who was kidnapped inside the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla where he was on call and came out to his car where he was kidnapped and taken through a distant bush path.
In the communiqué which was obtained on Thursday, the association said that it discussed the rising cases of kidnapping in the state which was a dangerous trend.
The NMA said, “The EGM strongly resolved to call on the Enugu State Government to as a matter of urgency ensure that all our public hospitals are well and heavily guarded by armed security personnel and equally ensure the beefing up of the presence and operations of armed security patrol teams across the State.
“Unanimously resolved to request the State Government to as a matter of utmost priority rejig and revamp the current security architecture of the State through adequate funding for security, installations of modern technologies and security gadgets among other innovative security measures that would speedily help bring this ugly situation to a halt.
“The EGM further resolved to mandate the management of the various health institutions in the State to either ensure that Medical/Dental consultants on hospital calls are provided with decent call rooms, meals etc or in the alternative provide a to and fro Ambulance escort for them to be able to perform their duties.
“The EGM also resolved to unequivocally charge all health institutions in the State to as a matter of urgency set up a Security Committee meeting, adopt and adapt the UNTH template currently being implemented while also factoring in their peculiarities as the case may be.
“The EGM finally resolved to notify the State Government and all other relevant quarters of authority in the State that the Association will closely monitor the trend and implementation of these resolutions including the earlier advanced protest letters and may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the entire Health sector of the State if reasonable progress are not made in good time.”