Doctors To Strike Over Kidnapped Colleague
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike, if its member that was kidnapped in December 2023 is not released by her captors.
The victim, Dr Popoola Ganiyat was said to have been kidnapped alongside her husband who is a military officer and her nephew.
The NARD in a statement on Wednesday said “On the 27th of December 2023, the Association received with dismay report of the sad occurrence of the abduction of one of its members, Dr Popoola Ganiyat, a registrar in the department of ophthalmology National Eye Centre Kaduna along with her husband a military officer and nephew.”
“This ugly incidence occurred at about 01:00 am on Wednesday, 27th December 2023 at the staff quarters of the National Eye Centre Kaduna with the assailants abducting and ferrying all three victims with little hindrance.”
“Post notification of the incidence, the Association notified all security agents through officially written communication requesting immediate action toward the prompt rescue and release of our incarcerated colleague.”
“Also, the Association notified in writing, our parent body the Nigerian Medical Association, our Parent Ministry the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Chairman House Committee on Health, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Kaduna state Government. The Association also established communication links with local chapters and Kaduna state NMA.” the statement read.
“The family have been in negotiation with the abductors and after several efforts, on the 6th of March 2024 the abductors agreed to let one of the victims go for which the husband was picked due to his failing health resulting in his release on the 8th of March 2024 and subsequent fresh demands for the release of the other two victims.”
They however lamented that after his release, different approaches to secure release of the wife who remained in captivity yielded no result.
“The Association deliberated on this situation at the January National Executive Council Meeting, May Ordinary General Meeting and July National Executive Council Meeting with official letters of request for intervention written to all major stakeholders as earlier stated, with no major result yielded.”
“Dr Popoola Ganiyat a mother of 5 children, last child, one year three months as at the time of abduction is a Nigerian trained doctor who has been in the service of the National Eye Centre since 2017, and has dedicatedly served the citizen of Kaduna and its environ.”
She is also said to be kept in inhumane conditions, a development that has affected her physical and mental health.
“Last interaction that the Association got from her shows she has been kept in inhumane conditions that have resulted in deterioration of her physical and mental health.”
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It was noted that due to the lack of assurance from security agencies, the federal government and Kaduna state government to secure her release and given her current health status, the Association held an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) Meeting on the 11th of August 2024 and resolved to take pragmatic actions.
Some of the listed actions are; “That the Association will be organizing a national press conference to bring awareness to the travails of one of its members and calling on Federal Government, State Government, security agencies and all major stakeholders to ensure the prompt unconditional release of Dr Popoola Ganiyat.”
It was also noted that afterwards “free Dr Popoola protest march shall take place in all tertiary hospitals across the country.”
Furthermore, it was noted that the Association will be embarking on an industrial action on the 26th of August if Dr Popoola is not freed.
They called on the Federal Government, Kaduna state government and security agencies to ensure that Dr Popoola regained her freedom to avoid a crisis in the country’s health sector.
