Nigerian doctors are fleeing the country due to low pay and an alarming new threat: kidnapping. The Nigerian Medical Association in Enugu State is alarmed by a recent surge in health worker kidnappings, with at least 10 incidents in the past two months, mostly targeting doctors from their workplaces.
In a firm statement following an Emergency General Meeting (EGM), the NMA’s Enugu chapter, led by Dr. Celestine Ugwoke and Dr. Sunday Okafor, warned of a potential strike if the state government and security forces don’t take swift action. They demand heightened security in public hospitals with armed guards and increased patrols across the state.
The communique issued by the NMA also calls for urgent modernization of the state’s security infrastructure, advocating for better funding, advanced technologies, and innovative security measures to combat this dangerous trend.
Moreover, they insist on better provisions for medical consultants on duty, requesting decent call rooms, meals, or ambulance escorts for safe transit. The association urges all healthcare institutions to form security committees, adopting effective security models from other hospitals while addressing their own unique challenges.
This alarming situation adds to the woes of Nigeria’s healthcare system, already plagued by a shortage of doctors leading to long wait times and inadequate care in government hospitals. The deteriorating healthcare landscape raises serious concerns about the state of public health in the country.
