Public Health In Jeopardy: Nationwide Strike Hits Hospitals as Doctors Demand Colleague’s Release

Earlier today, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) commenced a seven-day warning strike nationwide following an Emergency National Executive Council meeting held virtually over the weekend.

This action stems from the unresolved abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Center, Kaduna State, who was kidnapped on December 27th, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. Although her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

DparrotNews visited the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to assess the level of compliance with the strike. The hospital was crowded with stranded patients as resident doctors across the country halted services to demand the release of their colleague, Dr. Popoola, who has been in captivity for the past eight months.

The strike, which is set to last for one week, has led to a complete shutdown of activities in many public healthcare facilities, exacerbating the frustrations of patients who rely on these services. A few weeks ago, NARD members had protested across all tertiary hospitals in the nation, calling for the immediate release of Dr. Popoola.

In an interview with DparrotNews, NARD Chairman at the University College Hospital, Dr. John Oladapo, explained the significance of the strike, emphasizing that it is a desperate measure to secure the safe return of their abducted colleague. He highlighted the gravity of the situation and the necessity of taking a stand to bring attention to the plight of the medical community.

Stranded patients expressed their dismay and frustration over the sudden strike, lamenting the disruption to their medical care and pleading with the federal government to take swift action to ensure Dr. Popoola’s release, so that normal services can resume.

As the strike continues, the public’s plea for a resolution underscores the urgent need for the federal government to intervene and secure the release of Dr. Popoola, bringing an end to the doctors’ protest and restoring access to healthcare services across the country.