By Amos Aar
MEDICAL Services in government-owned hospitals in Benue State have remained epileptic as a result of a 3-day warning strike by medical Doctors which has been extended indefinitely owing to the abduction of their colleague, Dr Asema Msuega, in Zaki-Biam, Ukum LGA of the state
Dr Asema, the only doctor at General Hospital, Sankera, Ukum local government headquarters, was kidnapped on July 23, 2023 while on official duty as he was reportedly supervising a malaria programme at a Primary Health Centre.
Many outpatients in general hospital, North Bank and the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi have been left to their fate while those on admission were lacking proper attention due to the warning strike which was embarked upon on Wednesday and extended on Friday indefinitely.
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State chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Ushakuma Anenga, told newsmen on Friday that the warning strike was aimed at pressing on the Benue State Government to expedite action towards the release of the kidnapped doctor.
Dr Anenga cried out that there have been no noticeable efforts by the government to rescue the victim, stating that no government official had communicated with him to enable him to know what they were doing to rescue the abductee.
The NMA had on August 17, 2023 demanded the immediate and unconditional release of their kidnapped colleague from captivity and threatened withdrawal of their services if the authorities concerned did not ensure his release.
Consequent upon the state government’s alleged inaction, the strike was extended on Friday by the NMA arising from its meeting on the contentious issue.
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NMA however stated that private medical doctors have been exempted from the strike in order not to cripple heathcare delivery in the state.
“There has been no response to my knowledge. I haven’t been called by government; I have not spoken to any government official to maybe explain what they are doing. The guy is still in captivity.
“We had our state executive council meeting to look at the 3-day warning strike. The responses, the developments, we deliberated upon them and we took a difficult decision to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from 9am today,” Anenga stated on Friday.
According to the Anenga, NMA will stage a protest on Tuesday August 29, 2023 if Dr Asema is still not released.
Asema’s abduction makes it the second abduction of a medical doctor in the past three months within the Sankera axis of Benue State.
National Record had reported on May 23, 2023, the rescue of the Chief Medical Director of Hope Clinic, Makurdi, Dr Obadiah Etito, and 9 others by the Benue State Police Command in Sankera.
