The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Zamfara State branch, has given the government two weeks ultimatum, to urgently address the rising insecurity terrorizing the medical services, or else the health workers in the state would shut down all health facilities by 6 pm daily.
The association gave the warning after its state emergency Executive Council meeting in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
The emergency council meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, was convened, following the invasion of General Hospital, in Dansadau Emirate, of Maru Local Government Area, of Zamfara State, by suspected bandits, where a ward attendant and a patient’s relation were abducted last Friday, by the criminals.
The NMA Chairman, Zamfara State branch, Doctor Mannir Bature said, the report it has was that the bandits were specifically looking for the doctors and nurses in the hospital, which is posing concern to the medical practitioners in the state.
Also read: Bandits abduct two in Dansadau General Hospital, Zamfara state
He said the association wants the government to work with security agencies, to provide adequate and special security, secure all health facilities, and protect the healthcare workers across the state.
The association said it believes that the bandits are targeting the medical doctors and other healthcare workers for ransom and to help them treat their injured colleagues.
The Nigeria Medical Association, called on government at all levels, to convene a high-level stakeholders security summit to fashion out a strategy to eliminate the prevailing insecurity.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma