Uyo Teaching Hospital’s Doctors Continue Strike Over EFCC Shooting

Despite appeals by Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, the Minister of Health, the deputy governor, health and information commissioners and other stakeholders, the aggrieved doctors and workers at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, have refused to call off their strike.

LEADERSHIP gathered the strike called a week ago became the last resort to hold the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accountable for the traumatic situation currently being faced by patients who bore the brunt of guns and teargas released into the air while trying to arrest a senior thoracic surgeon, Prof. Eyo Ekpe.

The EFCC operatives, our correspondent recalled, were at the institution on Abak Road, Uyo, to retrieve a copy of a medical report for a suspect currently being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency, but the officials’ attempt to resist Ekpe’s arrest led to the deterring shootings.

At the emergency meeting of the state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) at the weekend, the aggrieved doctors resolved to sustain the ongoing strike at the UUTH, but directed its members to resume work at other public health institutions.

The resolution, signed yesterday by the NMA chairman, Dr Aniekan Peter, and the secretary, Dr Edesiri Ighorodje, cited the EFCC’s refusal to tender an open apology on the pages of some national dailies and to compensate the victims, including Ekpe, as reasons for their action.

Peter said, “After exhaustive deliberations, Congress resolved that the ongoing industrial action shall continue at the UUTH, while all other health facilities and institutions in the state are given waivers and, therefore, excluded from the strike.

“This decision is taken purely on humanitarian grounds in consideration of the suffering masses and as a concession arising from the interventions of the state government and critical stakeholders.

“Consequently, work should resume immediately in all excluded centres across the state.

“Should the EFCC fail to comply with the earlier demands of the association within two weeks from today, all previously excluded centres shall resume full industrial action,” the NMA stated

The Congress, while expressing the association’s resolve to protect the welfare, rights, and privileges of members, appreciated the efforts of the national officers, the police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their strong show of solidarity.

Also, the forum commended the Uyo branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for standing by the doctors amid the ongoing travails caused by the EFCC’s overzealous and unrestrained actions.