Cross River Doctors Suspend Strike

Cross River State doctor’s have announced that suspension of its ongoing strike action in the state.

The resident doctor on Sunday last week, had announced the commencement of its now-suspended strike action amid the rising number of COVID-19 of cases in the country.

The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River State branch, Dr. Agam Ayuk, and Secretary, Dr. Epoke Ezoke after an emergency general meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.

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The statement said, “We are most grateful to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha and the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire, for the timely 17-member delegation from the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) led by the Executive Director/CEO National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib that arrived Calabar on July 6, 2020, to set up a COVID-19 response strategy in Cross River State that will align with the national response.

“We deeply appreciate the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu for the activation of two (2) COVID-19 Test Centres at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Calabar.

“We also appreciate the NMA President, Prof. I.A.O. Ujah, the National Officers’ Committee and members of NMA for their support to NMA Cross River State,” the statement read in part.

“We enjoin the Cross River State Government to keep to the resolutions of the meeting held between PTF/FMOH COVID-19 delegation, Nigerian Medical Association – Cross River State branch and the Cross River State Ministry of Health signed on July 7, 2020.

“The association hereby suspends the total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services in all public and private hospitals in Cross River State with effect from today, July 7, 2020.

“We appeal to citizens of Cross River State to follow the NCDC guidelines on infection prevention and control while reinforcing our commitment to working with the Federal and State governments to contain the spread of COVID-19.”