Abia doctors threaten strike over kidnapped surgeon

Medical practitioners in Nigeria's Abia State are on the verge of an indefinite strike, demanding the immediate release of a kidnapped colleague. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia State Branch, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to security agencies and the governments of Abia and Imo states.

The NMA warned that if Dr. Bonaventure Aguocha, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon, is not released by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, a "total and indefinite strike" will commence across the state. The association convened an Emergency General Meeting to address Aguocha's continued captivity after he was abducted on May 24 while traveling between Imo and Abia states.

Agoucha is described as a respected teacher, mentor, and former Abia NMA Chairman. The NMA condemned the abduction as part of a disturbing pattern of violence against healthcare workers. They cited the unresolved 2020 abduction of Professor Uwadinachi Iweha, a former Chief Medical Director, as another instance of the risks faced by doctors.

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Doctors have increasingly become targets of assaults, harassment, intimidation and abduction by criminal elements, in spite of their commitment to providing quality healthcare under challenging conditions of poor motivation and remuneration.

The communique stated, "Doctors have increasingly become targets of assaults, harassment, intimidation and abduction by criminal elements, in spite of their commitment to providing quality healthcare under challenging conditions of poor motivation and remuneration." The NMA urged the Department of State Services, the Inspector General of Police, and state police commissioners to intensify efforts for Aguocha's release. They also called upon the governors of Abia and Imo, along with traditional rulers and community leaders, to deploy all necessary resources.

The association cautioned that failure to act swiftly would further erode healthcare workers' confidence in government's ability to ensure their safety, potentially leading to a severe impact on healthcare delivery in the two states. The NMA stressed that the safety of medical personnel is paramount, especially given the difficult conditions under which they often work.

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total and indefinite strike