Anambra NMA Decries Harassment Detention Of Members, Holds AGM
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra Chapter has expressed displeasure over incessant harassment of doctors practicing in the state.
Dr Jane Ezeonu, chairman of NMA, Anambra Chapter said this on Wednesday in Awka while speaking ahead of the 2024 NMA Annual General Meeting (AGM), Scientific Conference and Election scheduled for July 19.
The AGM would also feature the 5th Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Memorial Lecture and Grand Reception for Dr Jide Onyekwelu, the immediate past national secretary of NMA.
Ezeonu said the incessant use of security agencies to intimidate, arrest and detain doctors by families of patients who felt unsatisfied with services had become a serious occupational hazard for practitioners in the state.
The outgoing chairman said it had become necessary for the NMA and the Police hierarchy to dialogue on channels for seeking redress in line with provisions of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Act.
She said though there would always be dissatisfaction but reminded the public that doctors always gave their best to save life in every situation in line with their hippocratic oath at induction into the profession irrespective of the outcome of a case.
Ezeonu who said the NMA just secured the release of a doctor who was retained for 13 days noting that the ugly development was one of the factors fuelling the brain drain phenomenon among health workers.
She said by their training and oath, no doctor sets out to do harm and appealed to members of the public to eschew taking laws into their own hand adding that subjecting them to pressure and mental torture would affect their state of mind and ability to do their best negatively.
“A worrisome trend we observed during my tenure is indiscriminate arrest and detention of doctors by the Police on the instruction of families of patients who do not feel satisfied with services received.
“It is now an occupational hazard which also kills morale of doctors, imagine security men barging into a hospital facility to forcefully take away a doctor on duty, it is also a threat to healthcare delivery.
“In the past two years under my tenure, the NMA has had to secure bail for no fewer than three members who were illegally arrested and detained at the Police facility.
“NMA resolves to follow up on this case as events unfold, leverage on this experience to engender reforms that will strengthen the association, and further engage with the police and the public on the proper channels of seeking redress to ensure mutual respect, ” she said.
Ezeonu said the AGM would be a time for stakeholders come together, celebrate achievements,, share knowledge, and chart course for the future for healthcare in Anambra
She said the theme for the conference was “Excellent, Resilient and Equitable Health Care System Amidst Economic Downturn”.
She said the lecture would be delivered by Prof. Rowland Iheanyichukwu Osuji, the President Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria and Consultant Paediatric Surgeon with Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
“The theme for this year’s conference is “Excellent, Resilient and Equitable Health Care System Amidst Economic Downturn”.
“The conference will provide a platform for insightful discussions on topical medical issues, current economic challenges, and innovative solutions for the advancement of healthcare delivery in Anambra State,” she said.
