Despite calling off the strike on Friday, August 11, there are strong indications that the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, together with other medical personnel, may once more, resume another strike action over a Neurologist, Prof Ephraim Ekanem’s abduction at gunpoint on July 13, 2023.
Dr. Uche Ojinmah, the President of the National Medical Association, NMA, has already, given a seven-day ultimatum, that would expire this Friday if the neurologist is not rescued alive.
According to reports, the armed bandits who abducted Prof Ekanem in her home in Calabar had done so under the pretext of being patients.
The NMA national president had declared:
“We (the NMA body) have had interactions with the Calabar state governor and we have made it crystal clear that if by the end of this week Friday and we don’t see tangible efforts being made to rescue our colleague, we will take tougher decisions as we have watched the mistreatment of medical practitioners in Cross River over the last few years.”
“We may also be forced withdraw our members so that those people who like abduction will treat the residents of Cross River state themselves.”
Ojinmah ended the statement by urging the Cross River State Government to take active measures towards safeguarding its citizens.
The NMA has urged to the abductors to return the kidnapped doctor to them.