By Endurance Onun
Medical doctors in the state under the aegis of Nigerian Medical Association Cross River State Chapter (NMA-CRS) have, today, July 6th, 2020, withdrawn their services in the entire state till further notice. One of the prominent reasons for this strike action, according to NMA’s press statement dated 5th July, 2020 and signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Agam Ayuk and Dr. Ezeoke Epoke, respectively, is that NCDC has refused to confirm Cross River State as a Covid-19 infested state.
These doctors want NCDC and of course all Cross Riverians to explain to them why the purported five(5) “positive” cases UCTH announced last week have not reflected on NCDC’s daily situation report, before they will call off the strike.
To call a spade a spade, the reason for this strike is clueless, nonsensical and idiotic!
Recall that on the 26th of June, 2020 when UCTH alleged to have cured a Covid-19 positive patient in its facility, I raised some questions which they could not answer as I quickly condemn their report as being mischievous and one tailored towards a greedy end.
Recall also that on the 4th of July, 2020 after UCTH claimed that the five(5) samples they sent to NCDC for testing returned positive, again, I faulted their claim and requested to see those said five(5) positive cases reflect on NCDC’s daily situation report — more than three(3) days now, NCDC is still yet to confirm Cross River as a Covid-19 host state.
One could therefore conclude that these striking doctors have an ulterior reason why they want Cross River State to record its index case and for whatever that reason could be, it is not in the best interest of the general public; hence, the need to take action.
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION!
We must prevent NMA from continuing with this strike. It is not about the state government but our loved ones who are denied medicare which is one of their fundamental rights. We can not continue to fold our hands and watch a selected few men of the underworld send our relatives to their early graves.
I am therefore calling on the State Governor, H.E Prof. Benedict Ayade KSJ to rise to this challenge!
I am calling on our lawmakers, at the State and Federal levels to take this up as a matter of urgent importance!
I am equally calling on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to rise up to duty!
Youth and Student organizations are also not left out on this solidarity call!
NMA’s greed should be addressed once and for all because a stitch in time saves nine.
Writing from Ugep,
Mazi Endurance Onun
endure.onun@yahoo.com
6/6/2020.
