Doctors in Anambra State have called off their indefinite strike after the release of Dr. Stephen Ezeh, a private practitioner who was abducted in Ihiala.
The strike, which was initiated to protest the kidnapping, lasted several days and impacted healthcare services across the state.
According to The PUNCH, the decision to end the strike was announced in a statement released on Sunday by Dr. Princeston Okam and Dr. Ifeanyi Obiaeli, the Chairman and Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association, Anambra Branch.
They stated, “The total and indefinite strike action called by the NMA Anambra Branch to protest the kidnapping of our member, Dr. Stephen Ezeh, is hereby called off following his release.” The NMA also confirmed that clinical services would resume at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 25.
Dr. Ezeh was kidnapped on August 15 in Ihiala, prompting the NMA to issue a 48-hour ultimatum on August 22 and subsequently direct its members to halt their services.
The strike underscored the increasing concerns over security within the state, particularly regarding the safety of healthcare professionals.
In their statement, the NMA expressed gratitude to the people of Anambra for their understanding during the strike. “We appreciate the good people of Anambra for bearing with us through these trying times, and we earnestly pray that such tribulation will not arise again,” the association stated.
The NMA also commended its members for their solidarity and commitment despite the challenges facing the healthcare sector, especially the prevailing insecurity.
Furthermore, the NMA urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to declare a state of emergency on security, citing the detrimental impact of rising kidnappings and insecurity on Anambra’s economy and healthcare services.
The association called on the public, security agencies, professional organizations, and corporate bodies to collaborate with the governor to achieve a safer and healthier state.
