The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned Nigerians to desist from the growing culture of impunity against health workers, especially doctors.
The association threatened to match the abuse of any medical doctor with equal and opposite legitimate force.
Their anger may not be unconnected with the slow pace of investigation over the gruesome murder of their colleague, Dr Uyi Iluobe, on December 29, 2022.
NMA president, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, briefing the press in Asaba, threatened that if the murder is not quickly solved, it would propel many doctors as it is already doing, to migrate because of lack of security in Nigeria.
They called on governments at all levels and security agencies to quickly bring perpetrators of the crime to justice in the interest of peace in the health sector.
While regretting that it had been over three months since the crime was committed and as far as they knew, no reasonable arrest had been made and no one charged to court over the crime, they called on all men and women of goodwill in Nigeria to lend their voices to the call in the interest of peace.
“While we understand the anxiety associated with ill-health among our patients and their relatives, we shall no longer bear the brunt while doing our best to provide cure or alleviation of symptoms. Let it be known that the NMA shall insist on prosecution of anyone that attacks a doctor in his or her line of duty. Apologies and appeals for mercy shall no longer be accepted.
“It is a known fact that Nigeria is grappling with mass exodus of all levels of doctors while people are busy murdering the few left. We hereby put the government of Delta State and Nigeria on notice that the NMA at her annual delegates meeting later this month shall deliberate on this matter exhaustively and arrive at a resolution.
“NMA shall direct her members in Delta and nationwide if necessary to carry out our resolution until the needful is done in resolving this crime. The NMA wishes to reassure the grieving family of our late colleague that we shall not rest until his killers are brought to justice. Part of the prime responsibility of government is protection of lives and property, and this is all we are asking for. A stitch in time, saves nine,” they said.
