The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (JOHESU/AHPA) has issued a statement of support for the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) as they engage in a seven-day nationwide warning strike.
The strike action initiated by NARD is a protest against the continued abduction of Dr Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, who has been held captive since December 27, 2023.
JOHESU/AHPA condemned the ongoing kidnapping crisis in the healthcare sector, highlighting the severe impact on medical professionals.
The unions said they are particularly alarmed by the case of Dr Popoola, a nursing mother, underscoring the increasing peril faced by healthcare workers.
The unions argued that the pervasive insecurity threatens the integrity of healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
In their statement, JOHESU/AHPA demanded urgent action from both the Federal Government and state authorities.
They called on President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to leverage advanced security technology to combat the escalating menace of kidnapping, banditry and other organised crimes.
The unions insist that a coordinated and robust response is essential to safeguard the lives of healthcare workers and ensure the continuity of critical health services.
The escalating trend of kidnappings within the health sector, they said, poses a significant threat, underscoring the need for immediate and effective intervention from security agencies.
The press release, signed by Comrade Kabir Ado Minibir, National Chairman and Comrade Martin Egbanubi, National Secretary, demanded decisive action to address the ongoing crisis and protect the wellbeing of medical professionals across Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Goods worth millions of naira destroyed in Ibadan fire
and then