By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Some patients at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA) in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, were visibly frustrated following the warning strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) as it entered day two.
The action of the medical practitioners is to draw government attention over the continued holding in captivity of one of their members, abducted for over eight months ago.
Some of the patients and caregivers are expressing frustrations over how the warning strike has hampered the services being offered in the hospital, with consultants and house officers finding it difficult to cope with the surge in number of patients.
Victor Kalu and Ukaria Aruogu are some patients who are still hanging around the hospital.
They are appealing to the Nigerian government and resident doctors to call off the strike as it has brought about inadequate attention to patients and loss of man power on them.
The President of the National Association of Residents Doctors in AE-FETHA, Sunday Nnaji, could not be reached for comments as one of the members, Dr. Prisca Iheriohanma said that they’re in 100 per cent compliance with the directives of the national body, while calling on Nigerian government to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted doctor.
It would be recalled that Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors declared a 7-day nationwide warning strike which began on Monday night to press home immediate actions for the release of one of their their members, Dr. Ganiyat Poopola, who was kidnapped since eight months ago.