Cross River doctors begin strike over colleague’s abduction

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Cross River doctors begin strike over colleague’s abduction

Medical doctors in Cross River, on Sunday, began an indefinite strike in solidarity with one of their colleagues abducted on Thursday from her residence in Calabar.

The doctors announced the strike in a communiqué issued after their emergency general meeting on Sunday in Calabar.

The communiqué was signed by the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River branch, Dr Felix Archibong.

It would be recalled that on Thursday, July 13, a medical practitioner with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr Ekanem Ephraim, was kidnapped from her residence by armed men who pretended to be patients.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the incident happened at about 7.30pm.

The doctors lamented that despite all efforts made, the abductors had refused to free the physician.

The NMA, therefore, resolved to “embark on a total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services effective immediately in solidarity with our member still in the hands of her abductors.”

The communiqué added that:“This withdrawal of medical service will involve all hospitals in the state, including federal, state, private and mission.

“The state government should activate all necessary instruments at its disposal to ensure the timely and unconditional release of our member in the hands of her abductors.”

The Cross River NMA said it was not oblivious of the hardship its withdrawal of services would have on the citizens but appealed to the relevant security agencies to ensure a timely release of its abducted member.

NAN reports that this was not the first time the association would embark on a strike on account of the abduction of its member in Cross River.