Doctors in Cross River on strike over undeclared COVID-19 cases

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA in Cross River State has announced the withdrawal of services by its members in the State effective from Monday, July 6.

The decision was part of the resolutions at the end of the emergency general meeting on Sunday, July 5 to deliberate on the current issues of Covid-19 testing, surveillance, contact tracing, isolation, treatment and care in the State.

In a letter signed by the NMA State Chairman, Agam Ayuk and Secretary, Ezoke Epoke and addressed to the Minister of Health, the doctors demand among other things explanation from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, why, the 5 Covid-19 confirmed cases from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH carried out at the NCDC accredited Molecular Laboratory at Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State have not reflected in the Centre’s daily situation report long after results had been transmitted since July 1.

The Congress demands update of the NCDC situation report as a matter of urgent public health interest. The doctors also demand explanations from NCDC, why, epidemiology code numbers have to be generated by Cross River State Ministry of Health before results of samples sent by UCTH to an NCDC approved Molecular Laboratory can be published by NCDC, despite having approved UCTH as an independent test centre.

Arising from the meeting, all NMA members in Cross River State working in public and private hospitals have embarked on a total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services until NCDC and the State Ministry of Health give urgent and prompt attention to the issues raised.