The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a 7-day nationwide strike, set to begin at 12:00 am on Monday, August 26, 2024. The strike is in response to the ongoing abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, who has been held captive for over eight months.
NARD President Dr. Dele Abdullahi announced the strike following an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council on Sunday, August 25. He emphasized that the strike would be comprehensive, with no emergency care services available throughout the week.
Dr. Popoola was kidnapped alongside her husband and nephew, with her husband being released in March. However, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity, a situation that has caused significant distress within the medical community.
“The continuous captivity of Dr. Popoola is unacceptable, and we can no longer stand by idly while one of our own remains in danger,” Dr. Abdullahi said, according to Channels TV. He noted that the strike was a last resort after earlier protests at tertiary hospitals failed to secure her release.
The strike is expected to severely impact healthcare services nationwide, raising concerns about the potential consequences for patients in need of urgent medical care.
Prior to the strike declaration, doctors had already begun sub-regional protests in Lagos State and Abuja, calling for Dr. Popoola’s release. The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the National Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi in Lagos and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) participated in these protests, urging the Federal Government to intervene.
ARD President UATH, Dr. Abah Innocent, highlighted the increasing risk faced by healthcare workers, stating that kidnappers have begun to target medical professionals who work tirelessly to provide care to their patients.
