Medical doctors working in Cross River State have
threatened to withdraw their services over what they attribute to the frequent
kidnapping of their colleagues.
Making their stance known through a communique
issued by their umbrella platform, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the
medical doctors said their public outcry followed the kidnap of one its members,
Dr Ogbonna Uchenna-Aju, on May 3 while he was travelling from Ogoja to his
house in Obudu in the state.
Rising from an emergency meeting in Calabar, the
state capital, on Wednesday, members of the NMA issued a communiqué signed by its
Chairman, Dr Agam Ayuk, and Secretary, Dr. Ezoke Epoke.
The communiqué read in part: "The state
government and security agencies are given 48 hours to facilitate the
unconditional release of Uchenna-Aju.
"Failure to secure his release at the
expiration of this ultimatum, NMA in Cross River State will proceed on a total
and indefinite withdrawal of medical services in both the private, public and
institutional hospitals in the state.
"The hospitals include University of Calabar
Teaching Hospital; Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital; General Hospitals; medical
centres; Mission hospital and private clinics and hospitals from 12 midnight of
May 9.
"NMA is not unmindful of the impact of the action
on the good people of the state.
"However, we cannot continue to save lives while
ours are under constant threat by bandits and kidnappers."
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