The chairman disclosed that doctors had become prime targets for kidnappers in Enugu state.
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has voiced deep concern over the safety of doctors in Enugu State following the recent abduction of Dr Orockarrah Orock, a resident doctor attached to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.
Dr Orockarrah Orock, who worked in the Anesthesia Department of UNTH, was kidnapped within the hospital premises on Saturday night, Noovember 04, 2023, while on call duty.
According to Dr Celestine Ugwoke, the Chairman of NMA, Enugu State Chapter, the doctor managed to escape from the kidnappers’ den after they fell asleep due to the satisfaction of the ransom paid by his wife.
“He called his wife, and she informed the UNTH chief security officer, who picked him up that midnight of Saturday. We are profoundly grateful to God for his miraculous escape,” Dr Ugwoke said.
Expressing grave concern over the safety of doctors, especially those working in tertiary health institutions, Dr Ugwoke highlighted that doctors had become prime targets for kidnappers in the state.
“We are really in trouble as doctors are now their target, and we are living in fear as the kidnappers now chase us as if they are chasing rats,” he lamented.
Dr Ugwoke issued a stern warning that any more abductions of doctors in UNTH would lead to a complete shutdown of medical services by doctors in the hospital.
He added that this warning would be extended to other tertiary hospitals in the state if necessary measures were not taken to ensure the safety of medical professionals.
The NMA chairman stated that the association would be meeting with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UNTH to demand the release of a comprehensive security protocol for the hospital. The protocol would be aimed at guaranteeing the safety of all doctors, management staff, and patients within the hospital premises.
“We also want the hospital management to beef up security within the hospital, ensure adequate perimeter fencing of the entire hospital, and install Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) with a monitoring base within the hospital,” Dr Ugwoke noted.
He expressed disappointment at the lack of response from the state government despite previous efforts by the association to address the issue of doctors’ security through official letters and meetings with relevant authorities.
“Maybe, the government wants doctors to leave their duty posts and carry placards to the Enugu Government House before listening to us. This will be very bad if allowed to drag to this point,” he cautioned.
