MEDICAL CONSULTANTS IN IMO PROTEST AGAINST KIDNAP OF THEIR COLLEAGUE
REPORTER: UGONNA AGU
Medical practitioners in Owerri, under the auspices of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), have protested against kidnap of their colleague, Professor Ekanem Ephraim, in Calabar the Cross River state capital.
The Medical practitioners, in what they called “White Ribbon Day,” wore white arm bands, carrying placards with different inscriptions and marched within the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri.
Chairman MDCAN, Dr. Samuel Emdin, who spoke with radio Nigeria, said the protest was to register their grievances to government at all levels, not just for their kidnapped colleague, but for all others who were being held captive by kidnappers.
“We pray for her safe and sound release. This is also in solidarity with other doctors and every other Nigerian who have been kidnapped.
“We are not happy about the kidnap of any person at all. We are hoping that by this, the kidnapping will stop,” he said
Dr. Emdin expressed worry that their colleague Professor Dr. Ephraim was kidnapped for the second time from her office 50 days ago, and they feared for her life as nothing had been heard about her.
Addressing the protesting consultants, the Chief Medical Director Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, Dr. Kingsley Achigbu, decried the incessant kidnapping going on in the country.
He called on security agencies and government at levels to map out modalities to stop the menace.
Dr. Achigbu commended the consultants for not taking laws into their hands by downing tools, but chose to make their voices heard in a peaceful manner.
“Unfortunately, many of our colleagues have gone for greener pastures elsewhere. Not just doctors, but other members of the health team.
“And the few that have decided to stay in the country to help are the ones that are being traded as commodities. It is not fair,” he lamented.
The CMD assured the grieving consultants that he would convey their message to their parent ministry, hoping that they would convey the message to higher authority for action.
The consultants said a prayer for their colleague and other Nigerians suffering in the kidnappers’ den.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
