The Nigerian Affiliation of Resident Docs has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if their kidnapped colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, shouldn’t be launched by August 26.
The President of NARD, Dr Dele Abdullahi, made this declaration at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, stating that the affiliation has misplaced persistence with the federal government’s inaction over the kidnapping.
Dr Ganiyat, a registrar within the Division of Ophthalmology on the Nationwide Eye Centre, Kaduna, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, alongside together with her husband and nephew. Whereas her husband was launched in March, Dr Ganiyat and her nephew stay in captivity.
Abdullahi acknowledged, “Following notification of the incident, the affiliation notified all safety companies by way of official written communication, requesting rapid motion in the direction of the immediate rescue and launch of our incarcerated colleague.”
The affiliation additionally notified the Nigerian Medical Affiliation, the Ministry of Well being, the Ministry of Labour, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Home of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Well being, the Chairman of the Home Committee on Well being, the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, and the Kaduna State Authorities.
“For a rustic the place we’ve got positioned a excessive worth on healthcare suppliers and the necessity for them to stay inside the nation, it’s crucial that the safety of those healthcare suppliers is assured always,” Abdullahi mentioned.
Abdullahi famous that the affiliation has written a number of letters to safety companies, the federal authorities, and the Kaduna State Authorities, however has seen no important motion.
“We’ve been partaking, however we’ve not really had any alternative to have any private engagement with the safety companies and the state or federal authorities concerning this unhappy state of affairs.
“NARD has resolved to organise a nationwide press convention and a protest march in all tertiary hospitals throughout the nation to demand Dr Ganiyat’s launch.
“The affiliation will embark on industrial motion on August 26 if Dr Popoola shouldn’t be freed by then,” he mentioned.
The affiliation appreciated the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians and safety companies however urged the federal government to take concrete steps to rescue their colleague.
“It’s appalling that in a rustic the place we wish healthcare suppliers to remain, one in every of us has been incarcerated for over seven months and 17 days with none type of reduction or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed,” he added.