By Victoria Ojeme

The  insecurity challenges in Nigeria have recently assumed an alarming dimension. Apart from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States which Boko Haram insurgents have turned into a war theatre, other parts of the country have witnessed one form of insecurity or the other. This recurring blood spilling has become a major source of concern  to Nigerian medical doctors.

At a recent National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, the doctors deliberated on the lingering insecurity in the country with a view to finding a lasting solution to it.

Representatives of doctors briefing the press on security challenges

But from what transpired at the meeting, it was evident that the doctors are relying more on divine intervention as all efforts to stem the evil have so far proved abortive.
Also, at the meeting which served as MDCAN’s second regular meeting for the year, issues bordering on health care delivery, national security and welfare of consultants came to the fore.

The doctors who are visibly worried by the pervading state of insecurity in the country, especially in the North Eastern states, specifically condemned the abduction of 276 students of Government Girls Secondary School Chibok   on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

Vanguard Features, VF, recalls that out of the 276 abducted students, 53 have reportedly returned home to their parents, while 223 are still missing.  Same April 14, 2014 a deadly bomb explosion snuffed life out of 75 persons, leaving no fewer than 124 others critically injured. The blast erupted at a motor terminal in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja.

The bomb was said to have been planted in a red Volkswagen-Sharon bus by the dare- devil bombers who drove it to their target point.
A hole created by the bomb upon explosion, left an impression of a gargantuan deadly impact.

As if that was not enough, another blast occurred just about 50 meters away from the previous blast in Nyanya, last Thursday, claiming the lives of 22 persons, while 66 others were severely injured.

For the doctors, it was therefore a fruitful deliberation as the NEC resolved to call on the Federal, state and local governments as well as the National Assembly to take all necessary steps to immediately curtail the rising spate of extreme violence and loss of lives. According to the doctors, these incidents have  weakened confidence in the leadership of the country and is also threatening the future of Nigeria as a geographical entity.

At the end of the extensive deliberations, the doctors in a communique signed by its President, Dr Steven Oluwole, enjoined the leadership of the country to accord priority to the safe release of abducted Chibok female students  who should have the right of education like other human beings.

They also called  on the Federal and state governments to “take action to ensure the safety of consultants, release of several that are currently abducted and prevention of abductions of all Nigerians”.
Other demands of the doctors include: “Suspected kidnappers that are apprehended should be brought to justice speedily.

”The management and boards of hospitals in the country must institute measures to stop harassment of medical consultants, and ensure safe work environment for all hospital staff.
”The   management and boards of hospitals in the country should ensure appropriate disciplinary action against any staff who engages in acts of violence against consultants, interns,  residents, and any doctor that works under consultants.

The dental consultants’ president decried the frequent kidnapping of medical consultants in some Nigerian states . “These evil acts are considered detrimental to effective healthcare delivery,” he said.