By CHIDI NKWOPARA
Medical services in Imo State government-owned hospitals and health centres have ground to a halt, following the one week indefinite industrial action embarked upon by the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA.

Vanguard, on a visit to some of the public health facilities in the state, noticed that patients were being transferred to private hospitals and clinics, while others were looking downcast and helpless on their sick beds.

Apparently worried by the situation, the state government has passionately appealed to medical doctors to suspend the industrial action in the interest of humanity.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fredrick Ekwem, made the appeal while fielding questions from journalists in Owerri.

He wondered why members of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in the state would embark on the indefinite industrial action when negotiations were in progress over the implementation of the enhanced salary structure for health workers.

Ekwem affirmed that government had set up a high-powered negotiating committee, headed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prince Ken C.O. Njemanze, SAN, and four commissioners, including the Head of Service, to ensure that both parties arrived at a compromise.

The commissioner said he was disturbed over the unpleasant condition he met in government- owned hospitals and passionately appealed to the striking doctors to reconsider their position to pave way for a more fruitful dialogue.