Yesterday, medical practitioners across Imo State called a demonstration after the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) asked them out, following an inability to reach a deal with the government. Imo State doctors had been protesting what they described as the anti-life policies of Governor Okorocha and yesterday's march started from the NMA office on Port Harcourt Road in Owerri at about 12 noon.
However, when the doctors got to Orlu Road Junction in the city, anti-riot police in about 10 Hilux vans started shooting tear gas canisters, during which a gun was suspected to have been fired, which injured the doctor. Dr Azudialor, who worked at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, was allegedly shot in the head by anti-riot policemen drafted in to monitor the demonstration by the doctors.
After being shot, he was first rushed to the emergency unit of the FMC, from where he was moved to the intensive care unit and thereafter relocated to an undisclosed hospital. Dr Darlington Akukwu, the state chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Medical Doctors, has announced the commencement of a three-day warning strike by doctors in the state following the incident.
Dr Akukwu said: “Following the shooting of our member, doctors in Imo State will from today commence a three-day warning strike during which the Nigerian Police Force must name the policeman that shot our member. The warning strike beginning from February 4, will last for three days and if after the expiration of three days, the person who shot at our colleague fails to come out, doctors will start indefinite strike action.”
He urged the inspector-general of police Solomon Arase to compel the Imo State commissioner of police Taiwo Lakanu, to produce the culprit who perpetrated the act. Dr Akukwu also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to thoroughly investigate the matter.
However, police spokesman Andrew Enwerem said that the police only used tear gas to disperse the protesting doctors when they became riotous. He added: “Police did not shoot anybody and nobody who is shot on the head will ever remain alive.
“Let them produce a doctor’s report to confirm that it was a real case of shooting on the head. Anybody can pick any blood stained material from anywhere and claim that he was shot.”
Dr Hyacinth Emele the chairman of the Imo State chapter of the MMA, said: “Despite NMA repeated advice, government went ahead to concession virtually all the state public health institutions including primary to tertiary health centres, general hospitalsm Imo State specialist hospitals, and the Imo State University Teaching Hospital and their management. The state will stand to lose completely from the assistance of donor agencies and partners like WHO, Unicef, UNFPA, the World Bank and Global Fund among others that sponsor immunisation, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning and HIV/Aids services to these institutions.”
He equally condemned the appointment of a non-doctor as the Imo State health commissioner and the merging of the ministry with that of women affairs by Governor Okorocha. Dr Emele also decried the use of armed thugs to attack workers at their duty posts, adding that the use of a task force to regulate medical practice in Imo is against Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria guidelines.
In addition, Dr Emele also raised the alarm over the illicit harvesting and trafficking of human organs currently on going in the state. He added that lives of residents are at great risk over this evil practice.
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