The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra Branch, has announced the suspension of the indefinite strike it initiated to protest the kidnapping of Dr. Stephen Ezeh, a private practitioner based in Ihiala.
The decision to call off the strike was communicated in a statement signed by Dr. Princeton Okam and Dr. Ifeanyi Obiaeli, the Chairman and Secretary of the association, respectively, following Dr. Ezeh’s release from captivity on Saturday.
Dr. Ezeh was abducted in Ihiala on August 15, prompting the NMA to direct its members to down tools on August 22, after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum.
In its statement, the NMA appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to declare a state of emergency on security in Anambra, citing the growing insecurity and kidnapping that are crippling the state’s economy and healthcare delivery.
The NMA expressed gratitude to every practitioner who contributed to securing Dr. Ezeh’s release and for their dedication during the strike action. The association further directed its members to resume clinical services to the public at their various establishments.
“The total and indefinite strike called by the NMA Anambra Branch to protest the kidnapping of our member, Dr. Stephen Ezeh, is hereby called off following his release. Clinical services will resume at 08:00 hours on Sunday, August 25,” the statement read.
“We appreciate the good people of Anambra for their patience during these trying times and earnestly pray that such tribulations will not occur again.
“We commend our colleagues for their solidarity and resilience in the face of the challenges, particularly regarding security, and urge them to remain resolute and committed to delivering healthcare to the people of Anambra,” the statement added.
The NMA also called on the general public, security agencies, professional bodies, and corporate entities to collaborate with the governor in achieving a peaceful, secure, and healthy Anambra.
The prompt response to the strike action and the release of the kidnapped victim underscores the importance of an association’s united front in protecting the interests of its members. It also highlights the critical role of the health sector and health practitioners in Nigeria—a sector that has, to a large extent, not received the respect it deserves in the country.
