Anambra Doctors Suspend Services Over Colleague’s Abduction

In response to the abduction of Dr. Stephen Ezeh, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Anambra Branch has ordered its members to halt clinical services across all private and public hospitals in the state, effective from Thursday night.

The directive was announced in a statement from the branch’s Chairman, Dr. Princeston Okam, and Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Obiaeli, following an Emergency General Meeting held on Thursday. The action is a protest against the ongoing captivity of Dr. Ezeh, who has been missing since August 15.

The NMA had previously issued a 48-hour ultimatum on August 19, demanding Dr. Ezeh’s release. With the deadline having passed and no progress reported, the association has decided to implement a full-scale strike.

The statement emphasized: “NMA Anambra directs all doctors in the state to immediately withdraw clinical services in all federal, state, private, mission, institutional, and corporate hospitals until our colleague is released.” The association has also established a ‘Strike Monitoring Team’ to ensure compliance and will penalize hospitals that do not adhere to the directive.

The NMA has urged the Anambra State Government to deploy all necessary security measures to secure Dr. Ezeh’s prompt and unconditional release. While acknowledging the potential hardship caused by the service withdrawal, the association appeals for swift action to restore normalcy to the healthcare system.

The NMA praised Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Commissioner for Health Dr. Afam Obidike for their efforts to improve healthcare and security in the state. They also commended the doctors for their dedication to providing quality healthcare amidst these challenging circumstances.