Striking Delta Medical Doctors Resume Work

Medical doctors in Delta State who embarked on a solidarity strike a week ago over the kidnap of two of their colleagues have resumed work.

Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Delta State chapter, Dr Ossai Abaninwa, disclosed this on Tuesday in Asaba, in an interview with newsmen.

The kidnap of the two doctors almost crippled health services in Delta as doctors working at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, joined their colleagues in the state-owned hospitals on a solidarity strike.

Abaninwa told newsmen  that members of the association met with the government last weekend to deliberate on the security of doctors.

“The association held a meeting on Monday and discussed the outcome of our deliberation with the government.

“After the meeting, we decided to call-off the one week old strike,’’ he said.

He added: “One of the kidnap victims had been released while I just received a call that the other victim, a female doctor, had also been released on (Tuesday) morning.’’

When our correspondent  visited the state-owned general hospitals, Okwe, near Asaba, and in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area, doctors and nurses were at work.

Dr Raphael Ikechukwu, Zonal Chief Nursing Officer at the General Hospital in Okwe, confirmed that full activities had resumed at the hospital, adding that nurses did not join the strike.

Mr Churchill Oyowe, Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Health, implored the people to ignore rumours and visit the hospitals for their medical needs.

“All state-owned hospitals are working, the nurses never went on strike and the doctors have just resumed,’’ he said.

Some of the patients who spoke to our correspondent  said that during the strike, nurses were at hand to give medical services to patients.