Uncertainties As Doctors Withdraw Medical Services Over Colleague Abduction In Abia
Yesterday, Abia State medical doctors who are under the backing of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia State chapter, had declared an indefinite withdrawal of their services in both private and public health facilities.
The withdrawal of service was to express their displeasure over the kidnapping of their senior colleague, Professor Uwadinachi Iweha, nine days ago in his Umuajameze Community, Umuahia South Local Council of the state, a few kilometers from Umuahia, the state capital.
Professor Iweha, who is a lecturer at the Umuahia campus of the College of Medicine, Gregory University Uturu, is the fifth medical doctor to have been kidnapped in the state within the past three years.
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As he addressed the doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, after the staging of a peaceful protest while carrying placards and praying for Iweha’s release, Dr. Chimezie Okwuonu, the state NMA Chairman, explained that the withdrawal of services by the doctors would give them time to join and assist Professor Iweha’s family in the search for him.
“We shall take out time to pray for Iweha and carry out a peaceful rally to show that we stand by our own in this time of trial.”
However, he also said that emergency services would still be rendered to members of the public.
“It is our utmost desire that the government enables the release of our colleague and restore the peace and security we enjoyed. We ask members of the public with useful information about the abducted doctor’s whereabout to report to the nearest police station.”
Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, the FMC Medical Director, expressed his concern about the effect of the doctors’ service withdrawal on the public at large, especially the poor who can’t afford the fees charged by private hospitals and rely on FMC, which is the only functional public medical institution in the area.
Professor Onyebuchi then tasked the doctors to formulate some ways so as to reduce the impact that the withdrawal may have on the poor, as they continue to do whatever they can, including working with Professor Iweha’s family as well as security agencies to ensure his release.
